FactSentinel

Bulls are not angered by the color red. Cattle, including bulls, are dichromatic, meaning they have only two types of color receptors in their eyes compared to the three that most humans possess. Scientific research has demonstrated that bulls cannot distinguish red from green and likely perceive red as a shade of gray or brown. The notion that red provokes aggression in bulls is a persistent myth with no basis in animal biology.

The misconception stems primarily from the tradition of bullfighting, where matadors wave a red cape called a muleta. However, what actually triggers the bull's aggressive response is the movement of the cape, not its color. Studies have shown that bulls will charge at moving objects regardless of their color. The cape could be blue, yellow, or any other color, and the bull would react the same way. Bullfighters use red capes largely for theatrical purposes and tradition, as the color is visually striking for human audiences and helps mask bloodstains during the event.

This myth has been tested multiple times, including in controlled experiments where bulls were presented with different colored flags and objects. In every case, the bulls responded to motion rather than color. The animal's aggression in bullfighting scenarios is primarily a defensive response to perceived threats, sudden movements, and the stress of the arena environment, not a reaction to any particular hue.