An English photographer has captured the bloodthirsty world of cockfighting in the Philippines in a series of stunning photographs.
John Bolloten, of Bradford, England, photographed the cockfights in Pasay City Cockpit, Manila, between 2019 and 2020.
The photographs show birds fitted with 3-inch blade leg-spurs involved in ‘hack fighting’ as they’re forced to fight each other to the death.
Spectators can also be seen betting on the brutal fights which see 30million birds killed every year and up to £9.6million raised in Government revenue every month.
Mr Bolloten said although cockfighting was a ‘difficult thing to watch’ and a ‘very intense environment’ it was important to document the 6000-year tradition ‘honestly’.
John Bolloten, of Bradford, England, photographed the cockfights in Pasay City Cockpit, Manila, between 2019 and 2020
The photographs show birds fitted with 3-inch bladed leg-spurs involved in ‘hack fighting’ as they’re forced to fight each other to the death
Spectators can also been seen betting on the brutal fights which see up to 30million birds killed every year and up to £9.6million raised in Government revenue every month
The owner and trainer bring their bird into the arena and prepare them for combat. The signal is then given to start the fight and the roosters will usually fly at each other and attempt to land significant blows.
Because these attacks are fast and the birds are covered in feathers it is actually difficult to make out what is happening until they come apart. Fights can last from around 30 seconds to over five minutes.
Victory is declared with the death of one bird and then the victor will be rushed to the makeshift medical centre at the back of the arena to receive urgent medical attention.
Antibiotics will be given, wounds stitched up and broken limbs taken care of. Occasionally the winning cock will succumb to his wounds while being treated.
However, most will make a full recovery and will be ready to fight again in a few months’ time. The dead losing bird will be prepared by the on-site butcher and the winning owner will take him home for dinner.
The owner and trainer bring their bird into the arena and prepare them for combat as spectators watch on from the sidelines
The signal is then given to start the fight and the roosters will usually fly at each other and attempt to land significant blows
Because these attacks are fast and the birds are covered in feathers it is actually difficult to make out what is happening until they come apart
Victory is declared with the death of one bird and then the victor will be rushed to the makeshift medical centre at the back of the arena to receive urgent medical attention
Antibiotics will be given, wounds stitched up and broken limbs taken care of. Occasionally the winning cock will succumb to his wounds while being treated
However, most will make a full recovery and will be ready to fight again in a few months’ time. The dead losing bird will be prepared by the on-site butcher and the winning owner will take him home for dinner
The events, which are held daily across the country’s 2500 stadiums, have numerous ring-side bookmakers who converse in a bewildering mix of jargon and hand signals before each fight takes place.
Former Philippino president Rodrigo Duterte helped revive the billion dollar industry – known as ‘Sabong’ – after it collapsed during the Covid pandemic.
Mr Duterte issued permits to seven betting companies to operate online ‘e-Sabong’ which saw the cockfights streamed 24 hours a day and allowed spectators to place minimum bets of £2.75 with their mobile phones.
The controversial sport’s popularity ballooned along side Government revenue which saw £9.6million raised every month.
The events, which are held daily across the country’s 2500 stadiums, have numerous ring-side bookmakers who converse in a bewildering mix of jargon and hand signals before each fight takes place
Former Philippino president Rodrigo Duterte helped revive the billion dollar industry – known as ‘Sabong’ – after it collapsed during the Covid pandemic
Mr Duterte issued permits to seven betting companies to operate online ‘e-Sabong’ which saw the cockfights streamed 24 hours a day and allowed spectators to place minimum bets of £2.75 with their mobile phones
The controversial sport’s popularity ballooned along side Government revenue which saw £9.6million raised every month
The sport’s spike in popularity is linked to betting brand Pitmasters, which has a near-monopoly on the online business model.
The group’s owner Charlie Ang told the Japan Times it generates more than 700 billion pesos (£10.7 billion) annually in wagers – more than double the gross gaming revenue of the country’s casinos in 2019.
But the bloodsport has also attracted opposition from animal rights activists like senior vice president of PETA Jason Baker.
Mr Baker told the Japan Times the expansion of ‘e-sabong’ was a ‘cruel and unethical’ practice by a ‘desperate’ and ‘dying’ industry.
He said: ‘Moving this cruel and unethical practice online is a desperate move by a dying industry. Birds are mutilated, injected with steroids, and forced to fight until their unnecessary death.’
But the bloodsport has also attracted opposition from animal rights activists like senior vice president of PETA Jason Baker
Mr Baker told the Japan Times the expansion of ‘e-sabong’ was a ‘cruel and unethical’ practice by a ‘desperate’ and ‘dying’ industry
He added: ‘Birds are mutilated, injected with steroids, and forced to fight until their unnecessary death’
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