My loving, gentle dear old grandmother loved watching "the bullfights". When we were little girls, and my sister and I got to stay the night at our grandmother's house on Saturday nights, we would be thrilled knowing what lay ahead of us. Saturday nights at grandma's meant we would get to stay up late and watch the bullfights with her. I use to wonder how this kind, soft spoken, tiny women from Los Angeles knew of such things ? By allowing us to view this spectacle of tradition, and by explaining the several stages of "the fight", my sister and I learned some of our own history and to respect the culture of others. Sometimes I couldn't bare to watch and often cheered for the bull. The customs and traditions of another country are their own. If you don't care for bullfighting, I suggest that you don't watch or travel to the countries where it is celebrated.

Juanita McKenzie, Corona, USA, California

How sad that so many of the ignorant anti-bullfinghting comments on this thread are from the UK. Anyone who makes statement about cruel 'sports' and animals being tortured to death knows nothing about the emotion of the fiesta brava and they clearly know nothing of bulls. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they know nothing of what it is to be alive. Those who know nothing should keep quiet, but you know what they say about empty vessles. How could someone of such limited imagination be expected to see the wonder in the corrida? Let them make their benal jibes, those of us with hearts will continue to support the corrida de toros.

Bryan Strange, Kendal, UK

To Lyn Sherwood from Texas, just because something is "centuries-old" doesn't make it right. There are many disgusting, inhumane activities that go on in the world including many in the UK. It is our responsibility to put a stop to this.

G, London, UK

Let's clear up one misconception. Bullfighting is not a sport, it's a performing art. A sport pits supposed equals to an undetermined finish. In bullfighting, there is no competition between man and bull; the two a certainly not equals; and, except in those cases in which the bull's life has been spared for exceptional bravery, the ending is always the same: the bull becomes meat.
In bullfighting, as in gymnastics, diving, and figure skating, the performers are judged not on what they did, but how they did it.
I wish that those who don't know anything about this centuries-old art form would do some research and learn the facts, before the go spouting off to the media.

Lyn Sherwood, McAllen, Texas, 78501

It is a pity that more bull fighters as they like to call themselves dont get hurt in the ring. It is a barbaric "sport" acted out by people who belong to the stone age. If they fought in wars like they do with animals I could respect them, but they dont. So I say to all of them, I wish it happened more often.

Peter , glasgow, UK

Its a sick sport that disgraces the spirit of the human race. There are lots of violent sports but at least the competitors get a choice to compete unlike the bull. If the boy dies he dies, he gets no prayers from me

john, glasgow, scotland

Bullflighting is a not "sport". The spectre of a hapless bull being tortured and killed slowly is sure to make any sane person hate this "sport". I guess the bull got his revenge for the killings of its forefathers. I hope this Jairo stays alive and realizes what does it take to get stabbed and turn into animal lover.

Baskar, Mumbai, India

well what do you expect,i feel so sorry foe these bulls,how they suffer! stupid people! iv do not feel sorry at all for these idiots!1

deb, conisbrough, uk

Painful. It’s a shame!
This is inhuman, uncivilized. How can a child know how to make the right choice for his life ? How can an 'adult' encourage this uncivilized 'game' ?

sadden, nowhere,

May we wake up to the bigger mind which sees that torturing animals to death as entertainment, where causing suffering for our pleasure, is a tragic obscenity.

Hugh9, Sassenheim,

The minute he got in that ring he's fair game. How about they do a report on all the bulls he killed, how they suffered in agony till their ultimate death? I don't understand what kind of a world would champion the fact that a young person can be heralded a celebrity and rewarded financially for the torture and murder of an animal. It isn't art, it's violence. And he got it coming.. in Asia we call it "karma".

Ju Lee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,

To all the bull fighting supporters out there, it is indeed true that barbaric sports go on in the UK, however that does not mean to say that Brits agreee with it. I think that Fox-hunting is as barbaric as Bull fighting. And as for the hundreds of people who will lose their jobs - this is no different to any other industry where employees are made redundant like when the coal mines closed or for that matter the people who lost their jobs in the UK, when fox-hunting was banned. This is no reason not to ban it. As for culture and tradition - it is sad that this is a sport. Gladiators fighting lions, Flogging and 'Freakshows' were all once deemed as accpetable in centuries gone by - that does not mean that it is still acceptable now so why is this? j from London - it is sad that you cannot comprehend how short sighted you are. These animals may not be endangered yet, but if this carries on for centuries to come then they will be.

Spanish culture is rich enough without this barbarism.

Charlotte, Wiltshire, UK

He got what he deserved. Like the spectators did last year when a bull got into the crowd and gored a few of them. While I'm no animal rights activist, I'm short on sympathy for people who torture and kill animals for "fun".

David, Nottingham,

Jairo has killed more than 1,000 bulls?! <i>Shame</i> on the parents who would risk their child's life more than 1,000 times for fame and fortune. I will hope for your recovery Jairo, and also hope that your parents have learned their lesson and never put you in danger like this again.

Joel, Torrington, Connecticut, USA

There are so many things to do and see in this world, if you get your kicks by watching an animal being tortured then you have to be sick, it's not even a fair fight,so nothing to be brave about.

so9nia hayward, tonbrdige, uk

You must be kidding. Give it up because people get maimmed? That is the reason people attend - for the possibility of blood. It is the Hispanic variation of NASCAR. Surely people don't watch NASCAR to see cars go around in circles for hours - they want to be there just in case...

Ray, Portland, OR

Killing a healthy animal by risking someone else' life for entertainment is just sad. It is amazing the parents would put their honour and pride above their son's life. He is too young to understand the value of life, but they should know better.

Candy, London, UK

Why anyone would want to see this and other animal killing events is totaly beond me.
I am also amazed when its news that a person is hurt.
Such a shame at 13 to be this sort of celebrity,
His parents should be realy ashamed to have put him at risk in this way. Still i expect the money will soften the blow of any conscience

chris, amsterdam, nl

I’ve always thought that bull-fighting is not so much a sport as it is an esoteric ritual, impossible for the uninitiated to appreciate. Then again, I’ve always thought that a bull is to be killed by a man and not by a boy.

Mark Anthony Mifsud, Msida, Malta

This cruel barbaric sport must be stopped.

David Nigel Braham, Milan, Italy

Some further pieces of information deserve to be reminded about bullfighting in Europe: (1) it is practised in Southern France, Spain and Portugal; (2) about 40.000 bulls are killed each year in Europe; (3) bulls are often weakened before entering the bullring (e.g. their horns are sawed; their nose is blocked up to impede breathing); (4) during religious celebrations, like the religious festivity of St. Mark (see http://www.brighteyes.dk/dataentry/default.asp), bulls are drowned, burned alive, killed with spears and covered with darts (especially into eyes and testes). (5) Worst problem, at least from a political point of view: the bulls killed have been reared with EU money through the Common Agricultural Policy while the vast majority of Europeans disapprove bullfigthing; without this EU money, bullfighting would most probably disappear soon.

Fabian Battaglini, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Ole, el toro!

Misha Marinsky, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Jairo, our thoughts are with you. Brave soul. What a hero. For those who misunderstand Bullfighting is sport in Spain soaked in culture and tradition. Is is little different from your sports where you chase little animals around the countryside on horses. Fight dogs, cocks. Have dogs chase little rabbits around a field betting on the winning hound. Dont judge it until you understand it.

Cormaquinho, Madrid, España

Although I'm not a fan of this "sport", having lived in Madrid for 4 years has given me a new perspective on it. Bullfighting in Spain alone is a multi-million euro business, providing jobs for thousands of people. What happens to their livelihoods if it is banned? What happens to local economies in areas such as Extremadura, one of the poorer regions of Spain, if this is taken away?

The other problem is that unless you are a strict vegetarian any criticism of bullfighting is hypocritical. Thousands of animals are slaughtered annually to satsfy the human taste for meat. In many cases the animals are not properly stunned before being strung up and having their throats cut to then be bled dry. Before this they are kept penned in, given feed made from reconstituted waste products and pumped with drugs. Bullfighting bulls are allowed to roam free and have a "natural" life before a very unnatural death. Who knows which is the better option? It is far more complicated than just a ban.

RW, Madrid, Spain

I'm Spanish and I remember my grandfather used to love bullfighting...I was even taken once to watch a "corrida" but personally I think it is one of the most horrible things ever!
I don't even know how people dare to call it a "sport"! The bull suffers all throughout the "corrida" only to be killed at the very end when obviously he cannot defend himself any more due to the pain; the horses that participate also suffer as they are often stabbed by the horns of the bull and the "matadores", well..., they just make the money, isn't it?
No wonder they can retire at such a young age, after being paid such a ridicoulously high amount of money for killing an animal in front of the public.

Maria, London, UK

serves the fool right. would you jump infront of a speeding train, jump from a high rise building...then why would you jump in the ring with a bull....

jay, gibraltar,

It should be banned I have no sympathy for anyone being injured, the bull is doing what is natural to protect itself, the sooner we stop this barbaric practice the better, if people went round doing this to our family dogs there would be uproar, why does the bull have to be teased, put through pain and suffering and then mutilated for trophies in the name of sport, sick barbaric and should be banned.

Dave King, Beccles, Suffolk UK

May we wake up to the utter horror of torturing an innocent animal to death, enjoying its suffering as our pleasure.

Fred, Haarlem,

well said, misscorvette, i'm with you all the way. totally wrong this macho tormenting and killing of creatures that can feel pain just as we do. there is an obvious poetic justice or karma at work here. cruelty is rewarded here with big money yes, but psychic and physical damage can go along with that. i feel sympathy for the bull, who is forced into this fight, but not the one who does his best to incite the creature and try to kill it. it's just stupid barbaric, cave-man stuff. cue in the chest beating here. so get off it, stop being greedy and give these poor harassed animals the respect and kindness they deserve.

eternalom, Bellingham, USA

I agree misscorvette. This is a sick "sport", I truly hope it comes to an end. The Spanish already banned it in some cities, so that is a good sign.

Steve, Staffs, UK

I know all the activists are going to hate this but... the kid knew what he was doing, his father was a fighter so knew the dangers, i do not feel sorry for him anymore than i feel sorry for the bulls that are killed. Bull fighting may well be from a bygone age, but this is part of a culture that is comletely alien to most people not of Latin origin. All the people who have posted are from countries that don't have bull fighting, why the anger? why do you care? The Bulls are not endangered, up until they go into the ring they are cared for meticulously. It's interesting we here no cries of outrage for the bulls sisters that are killed in the millions with a bolt through the head, or genetically engineered to have oversized udders to provide milk for us. Ah yes but this is necessary to feed the human race but while we could quite easily survive with a beef free diet this does not seem to matter as much. The childs age is however a little concerning, not much though.

j, london ,

Yes a shame for the young boy.

His parents and all those cruel spectators of this barbaric "sport" should be utterly ashamed of themselves, humiliating, maiming and finally killing a noble creature. How can that be entertainment?

Joe, london ,

He got in the ring with a bull for god's sake, no one should be surpirsed and no one should feel sorry for him. I wouldn't feel sorry for someone who gets killed trying to kill sharks either. Just because he's young doesn't mean he's stupid, and doesn't mean he deserves automatic sympathy.

Greg, London,

People should have more respect for animals.

Chris, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor

To tease and torture an animal for days, some even bleed them to weaken them, I have no sympathy at all for this horrible "entertainment" or anyone that takes part in any aspect of it. If people didn't go to see it, it may stop.
We are killing whales, lions are becoming a rare sight and some African creatures are actually doped so some rich guy can take a shot at it easily and kill it.

Barbara Steward, Corbridge, UK

I think Bull fighting is a disgusting and barbaric sport and think that the Matadors get all they deserve.
It was incredibly unresponsible for Jairo's parents to allow him to participate whilst he is still a child.
Something like this, is to mind mind, no different to individuals in countries who encourage child soldiers, child prostitution, child warriers.
Let a child be a child and allow them to decide for themselves what is for them when they are adult enough to do so. What fuelled this is the lure of money. His parents should feel ashamed.
Bull fighting is despicable and should be banned. There is no valid reason for doing it and something as sick as this should not be classed as a 'sport'.

Charlotte, Wiltshire, UK

Bullfighting is heartless they should make the partys fair, a man and a bull both baer handed, lets see whos better...

Joost, Hoorn, Netherlands

Bull fighting is a barbaric and sickening Sport .
Good on the Bull.
His parents are a joke.

stephen, Monaghan, Ireland

The revenge of the bull! Far too young and the responsibility lies with the father - have sympathy with his mother.

The sooner bullfighting is banned in Spain and other countries the better. It may be "cultural", but is also barbaric and not a sport for the world today. It is no better than cockfighting and bearbaiting. I can understand that there is a skill and a certain balletic quality to the "sport", but it is no longer desirable in 2007 and should be banished.

Sandra Lowden, Wellington, NZ

S A Lowden, Wellington, New Zealand

Very Cruel + Barbaric Sport

Hopefully that will teach him and others Not to be so Heartless.
I feel Sorry for the Bull
The Bull Fighters Deserve all they Get

Ian , UK,

i'm really a bull fighter hater, but when i saw jairo, i realized that it was easier to let a bull die than a human specially a kid.. get well soon jairo and never fight back!

jayjay, Cebu, Philippines

may god go with he!

dsy, china, china

Hmmm..."...at 13 he can kill a bill." Wow. What a sad accomplishment. I'm sorry he got hurt, but now he knows how it feels to be stabbed. I hate bullfighting. It's inhumane and cruel. Maybe if enough of them got seriously hurt or even killed then slowly that "sport" will be no longer around. One can only hope.

misscorvette, Fremont, CA