General Elections 2026: Farmer votes accompanied by his 900kg fighting bull in Arequipa

In Arequipa, Peru, a unique scene unfolded at a polling station during the 2026 General Elections as a farmer arrived with his 900-kilogram fighting bull. The striking sight captured the attention of voters and election officials in the Tiabaya district.

The bull, a four-year-old named Bandolista Curaleño, is a participant in the traditional bullfights, a cultural activity that persists in various districts of the Arequipa region. Its presence generated considerable curiosity, with many attendees seizing the opportunity to take photographs and learn more about this inherited custom.

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Many farmers continue to raise these animals because it is part of our culture and our customs.

Jackson Segovia, the bull's owner, explained that he decided to bring the animal along during its usual walk after casting his vote. He emphasized that raising fighting bulls is a fundamental part of the identity for numerous farming families in Arequipa. "Many farmers continue to raise these animals because it is part of our culture and our customs," Segovia stated.

Segovia highlighted that this tradition remains active in districts such as Characato, Yarabamba, Paucarpata, and Socabaya, where bullfights are integrated into local festivities and traditional activities. He also noted that the bull's walks through urban areas are part of its training, helping it adapt to different environments, sounds, and everyday situations. This process, known as "destressing" the bull among breeders, aims to ensure the animal remains calm in both rural and urban settings. Bandolista Curaleño is scheduled to participate in a bullfighting festival in the Cayma district on June 14.

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The quality is that it adapts to any environment. In the countryside it coexists with other animals and it must also learn to handle itself in the city, with the noise of cars.