_RG_4773.JPG | Elie Gardner // Photographer and Filmmaker

Two captured condors are held in the mayor's backyard in Coyllurqui, Peru. Once a year dozens of Peruvian mountain towns capture condors and tie them to the backs of bulls for a bullfight known as Yawar Fiesta. The birds are the guests of honor at the event and if anything bad happens to the condors, the town is superstitious that a bad year will follow. The centuries-old practice, linked to the Andean culture, in some cases kills or maims the giant birds, which are endangered in Peru. After being tied to a bull and let into the ring for about 5 minutes each, both of these birds were released.

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Filename: _RG_4773.JPG
Copyright: Elie Gardner
Image Size: 3413x2276 / 7.0MB
Contained in galleries: Singles

Two captured condors are held in the mayor's backyard in Coyllurqui, Peru. Once a year dozens of Peruvian mountain towns capture condors and tie them to the backs of bulls for a bullfight known as Yawar Fiesta. The birds are the guests of honor at the event and if anything bad happens to the condors, the town is superstitious that a bad year will follow. The centuries-old practice, linked to the Andean culture, in some cases kills or maims the giant birds, which are endangered in Peru. After being tied to a bull and let into the ring for about 5 minutes each, both of these birds were released.