Blood festival in Peru known as Yawar Fiesta It is a big event in a village in the province of Quilorque, a small mountain village 9 hours away by bus from the city of Cusco, and it is the only place in the South American country where tourists can experience the traditional fighting between a bird and a bull.

Bull game

The competition is officially known asTurupuclay(The bull game) It has been played in cities such as Cusco for centuries, but animal rights activists managed to ban it in Peru years ago. However, in remote rural settlements such as the village of Quilorque, law enforcement is difficult, especially when it conflicts with interests economy of the local population.

The public is waiting for the condor’s performances

“If people come, they see a condor,” said Carlos Bocang, the mayor of Quilorque, in an interview. “If there is no condor, there is no festival,” former Mayor Walter Bocangel Gamara added to NPR: “I think condor protection is very important.” But here we have these customs and traditions. If there are no condors, there is no festival.”

So although they both agree on the importance of condor conservation, the economic uplift that the Yawar Festival brings to Coyllurqui More importantly, in addition, the symbolism of the exotic battle between the condor, the national bird of Peru, and the bull, the unofficial national emblem of Spain, is also a key element of the Yawar festival.

For her part, photojournalist Cecilia Laraboure said, “When people put a condor on a bull’s head, it’s a way of saying that the Incas are back.. For them, it’s important to have that feeling – at least once a year they can hope.”

Bull and eagle

The village hosts the Yawar Fiesta every year

So every year, in the middle of summer, the village hosts a festival Yawar Fiesta The famous and controversial condor vs. bull fights. The large birds, with a wingspan of up to 3.2 meters, are fed with alcohol and then brought to a large arena and then tied to the backs of large black bulls. Their legs are paralyzed, so they cannot jump or fly away.

When the bull is released into the arena to the cheers of thousands of spectators, the panicked condor perched on its back begins to peck at its skin, its ears, or even its eyes, in self-defense. If the bull does not make an effort to get rid of the bird, red-headed wrestlers are sent to keep it active. . It is a bloody sport that often leaves the “fighters” injured or even maimed.

For many, it represents the battle between the indigenous Incas and the Spaniards, if any condor is killed or wounded during the fighting, which usually lasts about 30 minutes, it is considered a bad omen for the year.

While animal conservationists have been trying to prevent bird fights against bulls in the village for years, but with the locals committed to preserving their traditions, their efforts have so far proven fruitless.