Bulls are believed to aggressively respond to scarlet shades. This is actually not the case. Along with all other representatives of cattle, they suffer from color blindness. Then why bulls do not like red color, if in fact they do not distinguish it?
Myth destruction
In 2007, Discovery Channel legend destroyers tested a live bull in three separate experiments. Their goal was to find out why bulls do not like red color and is it really so. The essence of the first experiment was as follows: three stationary flags of red, blue and white were installed on the arena. The animal attacked all three, regardless of shade. Three dummies were next, and again the indiscriminate bull left no one behind. Finally, the time has come for living people. There were three people in the arena, the one in red stood motionless, two other cowboys moved in a circle. The bull began to chase the moving daredevils, and ignored the motionless "red".
Why don't bulls like red?
Spanish matadors began using a small red cloak in bullfighting at the beginning of the 17th century. Since then, probably, people decided that it was this shade that turns a peaceful animal into a real beast. The fact is that scarlet shades are able to disguise blood, and sometimes it appears on the battlefield a lot. Why don't bulls like red? Does it scare them, annoy them? Will they react so violently to blue or, for example, green? In fact, it is not a matter of psychology or physiology; animals do not care: they only react to movements when they feel that something can threaten them.
Color doesn't matter
Color is what viewers pay more attention to than a bull. Firstly, richly embroidered costumes and red capes are considered an important part of the culture and tradition of bullfighting. Just as sports teams always wear the same colors, scarlet cloaks are seen as part of the uniform of corridors, and not because bulls do not like red. The reasons are also practical. Bullfighting is one of the most popular and controversial customs in Spain. Often this exciting action ends with the death of a bull, and the red color, although not very strong, but masks an already cruel performance.
The bull attacks the one who moves
The question "Why do bulls react to red?" is not entirely correct, since this color, and also green, they do not distinguish at all. Their angry movement. Moreover, the bulls involved in the bullfight come from a very aggressive breed (El Toro Bravo). They are selected in such a way that any sudden movements could drive them crazy and make them rush to the attack. Even if the cape is a sky-blue calm color, the bull will still attack if you swing it in front of his nose. Therefore, if the matador is dressed in red and stands motionless, and the other matador is dressed in any other color (even white) and begins to move, the bull will attack the one in white (the one who moves).
"Like a bull on a red rag"
Many people still believe that if the bull sees something red, as soon as his eyes begin to fill with blood, he will begin to breathe hard and scratch the ground with his hoof, and then, what’s the worst, powerful beast will rush headlong to whoever it is annoying. There is even a saying: about someone who quickly enrages, they say that he reacts like a bull to a red rag. However, this is nothing more than a misunderstanding.
It doesn’t matter what color the rag will be: if you move it and the bull notices it, then at first it will just be wary, but if you start waving it in all directions, then wait for trouble. This is a common defense reaction. The animal perceives movement as a threat, and it has no choice but to defend itself. By the way, if you wave a white cloth, then the effect can be even more noticeable, since this color is brighter than red and the bull will see it faster.