Horrifying footage of a distressed bull with its horns on fire in Spain has sparked calls for the ‘atrocious’ tradition of bullfighting to be banned.

Shared by non-profit organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the clip shows a white bull appearing agitated as locals drag it down a street in Valencia. It appears to have wood tied onto its horns, which is set ablaze.

A bull with flaming horns is known as a ‘toro embolado’ – or ‘bull with balls’ – and is a sight that can be witnessed in many Spanish towns during bull running events. 

The harrowing clip shows the terrified beast clashing its horns against the road appears to be pulled by a rope. 

A moment later it pushes its horns up against a tree where it seems to get stuck as it pierces the bark.

Horrifying footage of a distressed bull with its horns on fire has sparked calls for the Spanish tradition of bullfighting to be banned

The harrowing clip shows the terrified beast clashing its horns against the road appears to be pulled by a rope 

 A bull with flaming horns is known as a ‘toro embolado’ – or ‘bull with balls’ – and is a sight that can be witnessed in many Spanish towns during bull running events

READ MORE: Shocking moment terrified bull wails with fear as it is tied to post and has flaming torches attached to its horns during Spanish festival 

Picture shows a man with a knife next to a bull with his horns on fire tied to a pole, in Museros, Spain

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One man then shocking grabs its tail and tugs harshly on it, forcing the bull to unhook its horns.

The locals continue to drag and push the now-defeated animal down the street as hundreds of people watch on. 

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, PETA says: ‘Look at how terrified this bull is. This atrocious tradition is unjustifiable violence that must be banned.’

A second post by Spanish charity Animalist Party With the Environment (PACMA) also slams the tradition, which has drawn increasing controversy and protests in recent years, with demonstrators arguing it is a brutal and anachronistic event.

The post read: ‘National shame. This bull was in a state of shock at the popular festival of Puzol, Valencia, on September 7.

‘He left the stalls upset, getting tangled and tripping, but this did not prevent the event from taking place, where there were also minors. In addition, they forced the bull to move by pulling its tail.

‘We cannot allow this mistreatment over and over again in our towns.’

Bullfighting mainly takes place in large amphitheater-style rings. Tens of thousands of bulls die in the ring each year as bold matadors tease and coax the animals while trying to avoid being trampled or injured by their horns. 

The bull can be seen pushing its horns up against a tree in fear as a bullfighter pulls at its tail

Locals then watch on as a man pulls the bull’s tail and others push it down the street

Responding to the clip, horrified viewers condemned the video as ‘cruel’ while one said she felt ‘sick to my stomach’ after watching it

In 2010, the Catalan government voted to ban the deadly sport in the northeast region but in 2016 Spain’s top court overturned that decision, judging that it was part of Spain’s cultural heritage.  

Bullfighting also has a long and gruesome history of human casualties; it is estimated that more than 530 professional matadors have died as a result of injuries received in the ring in the past 300 years.

Responding to the clip, one horrified viewer – Katarina Hall – added: ‘How can people stand and watch this and think this is entertaining or even ok? 

‘How can anyone walk away from an event like this feeling happy and elevated? 

‘I literally feel sick to my stomach looking at this video.’

Another, called Julia, added: ‘People say is cultural, but there is a lot of cruelty in some cultural events, being part of culture don’t justify how cruel this is!’

And a third added: ‘This is so heartbreaking to watch. Why is this inhumane practice still going on. Have we not evolved.’