COSTA RICA STAR NEWS BRIEF

Edgar Calderon Quesada, a television cameraman for Costa Rica’s Extra TV Channel 42, died on Sunday after being struck by a bull during a live transmission of a Costa Rican-style bullfight at the Sarchi Convention Center.

On Facebook, Calderon’s coworkers described the man as a good friend who “died doing what he loved.”

Unlike some other Latin countries, “bullfighting” in Costa Rica does not involve the actual killing or maiming of the animal, but rather is an amateur event where untrained men enter the ring and taunt the bull into chasing them – sort of a cross between the running of the bulls in Pamplona and North American rodeos.

The Costa Rican tradition dates back to 1868, but has come under fire from animal rights activists in recent years.

In January, a group of activists staged a protest at one such event at the Zapote fairgrounds.

Activists argue that the bulls suffer as a result of being transported, taunted, prodded, pushed and mounted at the events, which are particularly popular around the Christmas holidays.