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Furious animal protesters have launched a campaign to stop the slaughter of the mother of the bull which killed Spanish matador Victor Barrio.

The 29-year-old was fatally gored in front of hundreds of spectators, including his wife, whilst fighting in Teruel , east of Madrid on Saturday evening.

He became the first bullfighter to be killed during an event this century and tributes have poured in for his bravery and skills.

As per tradition, the mother of the bull which speared him in the chest, causing fatal injuries, is destined to be destroyed to "kill off the bloodline".

But furious anti-cruelty supporters say this is not fair and the animal should not have to pay the price for the matador's death.

(Image: EPA)

(Image: EPA) (Image: EPA)

A Twitter site has been set up under #SalvemosALorenza and is being supported by hundreds of people every minute to the extent it has become a .trending topic across Spain.

Voicing its disgust, the animal party PACMA tweeted tonight: "Kill the animals, the people and sentence to death the cows which breed the bulls. Spanish bullfighting equals thirst for blood."

Those who have already added their support for the campaign to save Lorenza say the innocent animal should not be slaughtered.

"They are always bragging about the bravery of matadors yet when one dies, they kill the mother," said one.

"It's deplorable," said another.

"The world is an aberration," is another comment posted on the site.

It is understood that the bull which delivered the fatal blows to Victor Barrio has already been slaughtered.

The fate of its mother is not clear although one Spanish newspaper is reporting that Lorenza is already dead - not destroyed but having died of old age just a few days ago.

Regardless of this, PACMA says: "We reject the traditions based on violence, revenge and blood.

The mother of Lorenzo, the bull they call the murderer, is being sent to slaughter to end the race.

No ritual, custom or tradition based on the succession of deaths, fed by blood or hatred, can be healthy for any society. We know only one ethical end to all this: the total abolition of all bullfights."