Photos captured the intense moment when a bull jumped over the barriers at José Garfias ‘Hechicero’ ranch in Mexico City
Shocking images from Mexico City’s Anniversary Fair show a bull suddenly leaping over the barriers toward the crowd, igniting heated debates online.
On January 19, 2025, the fair kicked off at José Garfias ‘Hechicero’ ranch, featuring its first bullfight of the event. However, the show took a terrifying turn when one of the bulls unexpectedly jumped over the protective barriers.
A video shared on Instagram by @michael_film_ shows Spanish matador Borja Jiménez using a bright pink cape, known as the capote de brega, to guide the bull around the ring.
At first, the bull seemed to be responding to the torero’s movements.
However, at one point, it suddenly charged toward the edge of the ring and leaped over the barriers meant to keep the audience safe.
Photos from the scene capture the exact moment the bull soared over the red wall, launching itself into the seating area.
Spectators can be seen jumping from their seats, with some running for safety.
According to PEOPLE, no spectators were injured when the bull jumped the barrier.
The dramatic moment has since fueled intense discussions on social media.
One Instagram user wrote: “Why this is still allowed amazes me as it’s animal cruelty.”
Another added: “Good! Stop animal cruelty. They are fighting back!”
The bull went soaring over the barrier
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A third person commented: “Good – this so called sport needs to end.”
A fourth user shared their thoughts: “Good. This isn’t a sport it’s animal cruelty,”
Meanwhile, another person simply asked: “Is the bull okay?”
The controversy surrounding bullfighting is nothing new, with animal rights organizations highlighting the number of bulls killed annually in these events.
According to Humane Society International, “Every year, approximately 250,000 bulls are killed in bullfights. Bullfighting is already banned by law in many countries including Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom.”
People ran from their seats
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The organization further states: “Although legal in Spain, some Spanish cities, such as Calonge, Tossa de Mar, Vilamacolum and La Vajol, have outlawed the practice of bullfighting. There are only a few countries throughout the world where this practice still takes place (Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador).”
In Mexico, PETA notes that the states of Quintana Roo, Sonora, Guerrero, and Coahuila have banned bullfighting. Mexico City also imposed an indefinite ban on the practice in 2022.
In a typical bullfight, the animal is usually stabbed with a sword by the matador and killed. However, in rare cases, if the bull performs exceptionally well, it may be spared.
At this time, it remains unclear what happened to the bull involved in this particular event.