This is the distressing moment a bull writhes in pain after being set on fire during a festival in Spain.

In a tradition that goes back centuries, a mob of locals in the picturesque town of Medinaceli torture and abuse bulls on the second weekend of November.

Men test their so-called bravery by taunting and chasing the Toro de Fuego, which literally means ‘bull on fire’.

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A bull rears its burning head, sending flames of tar all over its back during the festival in Medinaceli (Picture: AnimaNaturalis)

Animal rights group say thousands of bulls are torched every year in Spain (Picture: John Milner/SOPA Images/REX)

Before the ceremony begins, the bull is surrounded by men who fasten imitation horns onto its head and cover them with balls of tar.


They then torch the horns which erupt in huge flames, spitting burning tar balls everywhere as the bull charges around the arena in front of thousands.



The animal often smashes into walls in an attempt to douse the fire, which can continue burning for hours.

In one distressing photo, a bull rears its burning head, sending flames of tar all over its back.

Animals rights group Anima Naturalis filmed the brutal festival (Picture: AnimaNaturalis)

The bull sends burning tar flying as it writhes around in pain (Picture: AnimaNaturalis)

Animals rights group Anima Naturalis managed to sneak into the town to film the brutal festival, despite organisers banning all recording devices.

The group claim more than 3,000 bulls are torched across Spain each year, as they continue to raise awareness to end the tradition.

Despite widespread condemnation, the ‘fire bull’ festival is still viewed as a cultural event and is protected by the Spanish authorities.

PETA Director Elisa Allen said the ‘agony the bulls must suffer is almost unimaginable’.

The huge fire ball can burn for hours on the bull’s head (Picture: AnimaNaturalis)

Some men taunt the burning bull (Picture: AnimaNaturalis)

She told Metro.co.uk: ‘This is the 21st century, yet somehow in a supposedly civilised country, it is acceptable for street mobs to harass bulls who have had balls of burning pitch attached to their horns.

‘The fiery balls can burn for hours, and they burn the bulls’ horns, eyes and other parts of their bodies and cause tremendous stress.

‘The agony the bulls must suffer is almost unimaginable, and some animals try to end their pain by smashing into walls.

‘It’s totally understandable that compassionate people would want to do anything they can to ease the bulls’ suffering, and history will not look back kindly on the people who support and enforce this sadistic and archaic event, of which the vast majority of Spanish people are ashamed.

The festival tests the participant’s so-called bravery (Picture: John Milner/SOPA Images/REX)

The ‘Fire Bull’ festival has been going on for centuries (Picture: REX)

‘While different cultures may not understand each other’s customs, all rational humans comprehend cruelty. Setting fire to a live animal is clearly sadistic.

‘It’s time for all regions of Spain to subscribe to the ethical doctrines that shape our civilised world. Heritage, entertainment, art and religion never justify outright torture.’

Hundreds of thousands of people have signed petitions calling to end burning festivals in Spain.

More than 90,000 people in one Change.org petition are demanding Pope Francis ‘unequivocally’ condemns the practice during religious or historical celebrations.

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