COVID-19 Lockdowns Gored Spain’s Fighting Bull Industry

When COVID-19 hit pause on global events, Spain's iconic fighting bulls became unlikely casualties. Meet Victorino Martin – a breeder whose livelihood hinges on bullfighting seasons that typically run from March to October. But with 90% of events canceled (over 500 bullfights!), his world has turned upside down.

\"It costs €5,000 to raise a bull,\" Martin explains, \"but selling the meat only brings €500.\" Many breeders are now sending their prized animals to slaughterhouses – a gut-wrenching choice for an industry rooted in tradition. Some bullfighters, too, face financial freefall with zero income.

The crisis highlights how niche cultural sectors got trampled by pandemic restrictions. As Martin puts it: \"This is the worst I've seen in my life.\" His solution? A return to normalcy – but for now, the corrida crowd waits for the final bell to ring.

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Story of Fighting COVID-19: Fighting bulls fall prey to lockdown

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