Twin fighting bulls face death together

MADRID, May 31 (Reuters) For the first time anyone can remember, twin fighting bulls will be killed in the Madrid ring today as part of the Spanish capital's month-long San Isidro bullfighting cycle.

''Carlitos'' and ''Paquito'', two half-tonne red bulls from the legendary 150-year-old Portuguese ranch of Palha were born from the same mother in December 2002 and will be killed separately by bullfighters Javier Castano and Sanchez Vara.

It is extremely rare for twins to be born on ranches producing fighting bulls and therefore very unlikely that they would appear in the same bullfight.

''I don't think Madrid has seen a similar case,'' said Palha owner Joao Folque de Mendoca. ''My ranch had never seen such a thing.'' The two bulls are not exactly the same but have very similar faces with ''Carlitos'' the wilder and ''Paquito'' the better looking, the rancher said.

He said that during their four years on the ranch, they have not fought each other -- a common occurrence between fighting bulls -- but have stuck together.

Later on Thursday, they will be separated for their final minutes and an almost inevitable death.

REUTERS PJ RN2018