Bring on the Matadwarfs: Meet the tiny fighters giving the bulls a run for their money

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Matadwarfs: Osvaldo Hernandez takes on a calf during a bull fight in Cancun


It's one of the most controversial sports on the globe and, to many animal lovers, one of the cruellest.

However, a troupe of matadors in Mexico are making people look at bullfighting in a very different way.

This group of dwarf bullfighters is delivering its own version of the Spanish tradition - and it's no small feat.



Small and mighty: Dwarf bull fighters Osvaldo Hernandez and Jorge Vega (right) thank the audience


Throwing down the gauntlet: Osvaldo Hernandez (left) and Jorge Vega wear pantomime-style dummy horses while challenging a calf


The Enanitos Toreros are a group of six comedians from Yucatan who travel across Mexico entertaining audiences and carrying on a tradition born in Spain along with regular bullfighting.

The dwarfs - or 'little people' as some prefer to be called - have been entertainers for centuries, having been excluded by discrimination or their height handicap from many everyday professions.




Just for fun: The Enanitos Toreros are a group of six comedians from Yucatan who travel across Mexico entertaining audiences


Unlike traditional bullfights, the animals are not harmed, and calves are used instead of full-size bulls.

Mexico's dwarf bullfighters not only carry on the Spanish tradition, but they also showcase their skill and comic artistry.

While the young bullocks they use are half the weight of regular fighting bulls, they are bred to be particularly aggressive and, for those small in stature, can be just as frightening and dangerous as the real thing


Little performer: Dwarf bullfighter Jorge Vega waits in the ring, as the audience watches


All in a day's work: Jorge Vega sits on a calf at the end of the show

However, unlike traditional bullfights, the animals are unharmed.

There are almost 20 dwarf bullfighting troupes in Mexico and many of them tour the United States to perform for migrant workers.

Matadors in Mexico can earn about $100 for each show.


source: dailymail