Legal "COCKFIGHTING" in Laos.

I was on a 15 day's  exploration travel across Laos from Wednesday(1/1/2020) to Wednesday(15/1/2020)  travelling by road from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng and finally the Capital Vientiane.In Vang Vieng was lucky to witness legalized "COCKFIGHTS" thanks to local Laotian Mr Tott whom i happen to befriend after seeing his two fight cocks kept outside his residence cum restaurant near the plush Nam Song riverside locale.Below is a pictorial essay of the cock-fight ring's and the cock-fight bouts.

Thursday(9/1/2020):- Mr Tott took me to this local village cockfight  which had less than 50 spectators and a temporary small cockfight ring erected under the shade of a large tree.

VILLAGE COCKFIGHTING:- In Laos "COCKFIGHTING" is a legalized blood-sport as also in neighbouring Thailand. The cocks fight without knives/Gaffe's  tied to their legs and hence these fights last for an hour or more .It's very similar to "Human Boxing" with each cockfight bout lasting 20 minutes and then a rest break/of 20 minutes.A total of 3 bouts resulting in 60 minutes of brutal pecking and kicking at each other resulting in severe injury which is attended to by local vets during the 20 minutes break. Akin to human boxers wearing different colored boxing shorts so also the fight cock-birds are differentiated by the color band taped around both their legs.One Fight-Cock has a red colour tape around both its legs while its opponent has blue colour taped on its legs.Notice the "STOP-WATCH" tied onto the bark of the tree.After 20 minutes the clock siren buzzes and the fight stopped.

Owners pairing and comparing their "FIGHT COCKS" for a fight bout.

On Saturday(11/1/2020) watched Mr Tott train his pair of "Cock-fight birds" at a farmhouse in Vang Vieng .

Laotian Mr Tott  with his 2 Fight-Cock birds undergoing a sparring training session akin to a real cock-fight bout. Only difference is that during "SPARRING TRAINING  BOUTS" the two Fight birds have their beaks tied  and legs padded to avoid biting and injuring each other.In this photo Mr Tott is in the process of tying a string around the beak of the red coloured bird under  his arm. The other Cock-bird on the ground already has its beak taped with electrical tape.Thank's to Mr Tott that i got a inner ring-side view of the Laotian sport of Cockfighting which is totally legal.The small temporary cockfight training ring was fabricated from a thick sheet of cork or rubber which can be instantly dismantled and refitted.

Wow,You can jump this high " ? The  COCKFIGHT practice sparring session in Mr Tott's  farm-house in Vang Vieng. During the practice bout the beaks of both the cock birds are tied shut by tape or string and their legs padded.Sheer poetry in motion although brutal for the fainthearted.Cockfighting in neighbouring Thailand is also legal and similar to "Laos Cock fighting" as the Thai Cock-birds fight without knives attached to their feet.

On Saturday(11/1/2020) afternoon was lucky to visit the permanent "Cock-Fight Stadium" in Vang Vieng  after watching the " Cock Fight practice bouts" in the morning at Mr Tott's farmhouse .A day to remember as i first got a insight into the art of training "COCK FIGHT" fowls and later actually got to witness cock fight's at a permanent stadium in the city.

Permanent "COCK FIGHT ARENA" in Vang Vieng. Cockfighting is legal in Laos  and here is a permanent concrete  cemented cock-fight ring along with circular cemented seats encircling the ring.I In Laos "Cockfighting" is without attached knives and hence the fight lasts for a hour or more . In Manila where cockfighting is also legal the stadium is a huge enclosed structure  with a house-full crowd while here in Vang Vieng it was a small open-air stadium with a crowd of about 100 spectators/participants. Food and drinks are served at this small stadium.

A 20 minutes cock-fight bout in progress at the permanent Cock-Fight stadium in Vang Vieng. Notice the flood lights under which the cock bird's fight as also the soft natural mud of the cock-pit ground.This is a permanent cemented cock fight ring held under a sheet-metal roofed open-air ground. Akin to human boxers the Cock - Fight birds at times literally hold onto each other with their beaks and necks as also  putting their  head under the opponents wings trying to displace its foothold on the ground.Here in this photo both the Cock-birds are clinging onto each other akin to human boxers. I observed the spectators betting with each other when a bird either jumped high in the air onto its opponent or seemed to be getting the better of its opponent by chasing it around the enclosed ring or being more dominant in pecking at its opponent.So even if a fight ends in a draw seems money is wagered during the fight on the technical points scored by each bird against its opponent.Bizarrely similar to human boxing .

Competitors and their cock-fight bird's at the permanent cock-fight stadium in Vang Vieng.

MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER EVERY 20 MINUTES BOUT :-  After 20 minutes of fighting the Cock-Fight is stopped and the two bird's taken to two different "Cock-Fight Veterinarians" for medical treatment as shown in this photo.There are two separate small enclosures on the circumferential  end of this small stadium in which the 2 cock fight bird's are medically treated by their own separate team of local veterinarians.Initially after the first 20" of bout the Cock-Fight bird's  throat is cleared by inserting a feather into the throat. Next, the eyelids are stitched to prevent them from closing during the next 20" round of the fight.The bird's are also massaged with warm water and a cloth  rubbed over a plate kept over hot coals as shown in this photo.Last of all the bird is also given a medicinal drop which could be a steroid  and finally made to stand on its two feet for the next round of 20"..I saw bouts last 60 minutes with no result .Normally after 3 rounds of 20" the cock-fight between the two cock's ends for the day in a draw .At times the bouts are extended into 4 or more rounds depending on the agreement between the human owners of the fighting cock-birds. 

Thank's to Mr Tott that i got to understand and witness Laotian Cock fighting during my stay in Vang Vieng in Laos. Prior to this i had only seen cock-fight's with knives attached to the leg's of the cock-birds.Here in my hand is the better of the two of Mr Tott's prized Cock- fight bird's after the first round of their practice bout of 20 minutes.These  cock-fight  bird's are very docile when handled by humans but transform themselves into unbelievable fighting  machines when pitted against another of its kind in a small or large enclosed ring.

Witnessing illegal "COCKFIGHTING" in Kuta in Bali(Indonesia).

"DAGGER KNIFE" fastened to a fighting cock-bird leg.

Monday(1-9-2014) :- Was on a 23 day holiday of  Java and Bali in Indonesia, my holidays having started on Monday(11-8-2014)  on arrival in Jakarta from my home city of Mumbai.On Monday (1-9-2014) i was having a early morning stroll around "Poppy's-1" street in Kuta when i heard some cocks crowing in a compound .Made my way into the compound and saw a few cocks kept penned in small bamboo t-pee covers.

"COCKFIGHTING RING AND STADIUM"

                                                                                                                         I realized that these were "Fighting Cocks" and enquired with a local if the sport of "Cockfighting" existed in Kuta.To my utter surprise he informed me that "Cockfighting" was held daily in the afternoon near the "Bakunsari Hotel" situated on JL Buna Sari Street.    

"Fighting Cockbirds" kept in Cane baskets.

                                                                                                                                           This was just a few minutes walking distance from my hotel "Maha Bharata" situated on Legian street in Kuta.In the afternoon at approx 1230 hrs headed towards the "Cockfighting " site. It was situated in a small shed off the main road of JL Kubu Anyar.Some beautiful imported Philippines cockbirds were kept enclosed in bamboo basket enclosures. A small  part of a shed was converted into a mini makeshift stadium akin to a boxing ring.The entire concept seems to have been modeled on the Filipino form of cockfighting, although this was entirely illegal while in the Philippines it is legal !

Documenting the illegal "Cockfights" in Kuta.

                                                                                               I was the only foreigner in the crowd, the rest being locals. Entrance ticket to the "Cockfighting show " was 10,000 Rupiah.The last time i had witnessed cockfighting in a foreign Country was in Manila in 1995 and the same has been documented.The Cockfighting complex  resembled a mini gambling casino with a local form of roulette , dice and card games  being played at one end of the small stadium.There was a massage man at one end giving a massage to man on the floor.

Balinese rituals at start of "COCKFIGHT".Religious offerings.

                                The cockfighting ring had a few cocks in basket cages kept along its boundary fence and  some religious offerings in the centre of the cockpit where the cockbirds would be pitted against each other. The crowd gradually began to fill  and i was a major source of  interest being the only foreigner.Later three young German tourists joined the crowd and it was a total carnival atmosphere in the small illegal gambling club ."COCKFIGHTING" has deep cultural and religious significance in Balinese culture and hence it is allowed in Bali although officially illegal.The "Cockbirds" are used as sacrificial offerings and cockfights are always held on auspices occasions.

Handlers & Owners of "COCKBIRDS".

                            The gambling aspect is another face of "Cockfighting" and involves heavy gambling among the locals.As always a group of men gathered inside the cockpit with their cocks for pairing of fights.The cockbirds were judged by weight and hence birds of equal weights were paired too fight against each other, a brutal gladiator sport.There were  men inside the cockpit  wearing green shirts that advertised their cockfighting club  on the back .Seemed the sport was totally legal.It read "KRESEK COCKFIGHTING -2014, Utamakan Tabuh Rah", the language being Indonesian .It was after a gap of 19 years that i was witnessing a "Cockfight" in a foreign country, having last witnessed a illegal fight in the outskirts of Bangalore city in India.In South India akin to Bali cockfights hold a religious significance and are held illegally on auspicious religious Hindu festivals.After the cockbirds were paired the action began and the betting frenzy was to be seen to be understood.It was very similar to the legalized gambling coliseums of Manila, only difference being that the crowd in Kuta was miniscule compared to Manila."Coded Sign Language" was involved is betting and no money was exchanged during the betting, a total jigsaw puzzle to a outsider witnessing this fierce bird bloodsport.

Owners pairing their birds for the "COCKFIGHTS".

                                                                                Seems bets on a  win or a loss was settled after the birdfight unlike other betting sports where a "Bookie" is involved in accepting money for a bet before the event , also giving the odds for the bet.In Balinese  Cockfighting there were no "Bookie's"  but just a lot of yelling and shouting between the spectators and the handlers with money shown as a sign of wagering but not exchanged as is the done thing with  Bookie's in other forms of gambling sports.O A few men had "Money Satchels" across their shoulders and were heavily involved in the betting frenzy which could indicate some form of "Bookie Gambling" involved in this illegal bloodsport.All the cockbirds were of local breed similar to fowls in India unlike the beautiful large Filipino cockbirds of Manila that cost a fortune.

"HOUSE-FULL" crowd watching & wagering "COCKFIGHTS".

                                  The average price of these cockbirds ranged from 20 to 30 U.S $'s. Once the birds were paired and the betting done  the grand finale began.The two fighting cocks were taken to the centre of the ring where previously religious offerings had been kept with the owners/handlers  holding their respective cockbird.

"COCKFIGHT" about to begin. Betting Frenzy .before start.

                              A "Cockfight referee" akin to a "Boxing referee" judged the entire proceedings, his word being final in important stages of the short and brief fatal bird fight.The two birds faced each other and were aggravated by their owners to peck and bite at each other. On a signal the two birds were released by their owners in the centre of the ring and the fight began.The birds literally ran towards  each other, jumping in the air and kicking .In a few seconds both the birds were locked together on the ground pecking at each other but unable to stand as their legs were entangled.On a signal from the  fight referee after a "Knockout Count" both the birds were separated  by their owners and after a brief few seconds were put into a enclosed red coloured  bamboo basket for the final kill. After a few  seconds of thrashing between the birds inside this enclosed basket the game was over with one bird lying dead or dying on the floor and the other bird standing or still very much alive and the winner.

"Cock Fight daggers", a surgeons envy  in instrumentation.

                                                                      .I observed this "BASKET OF DEATH" for the first time in a cockfight.Have seen  a few  illegal cockfights in Indian villages but  never ever saw the two fighting birds locked together in a enclosed basket for the ultimate death fight.Same applied in the  legal fights cockfights in Manila.Balinese cockfights was different from Indian and Filipino cockfights in the usage of the "Basket of death".

Both birds on the ground almost locked together in the fight.

              The dead  or dying bird was quickly taken to the side of the ring and "Euthanized" with the jab of a knife at its side by a special "chicken slaughteror".The winning bird was not sutured in the cockfighting complex  as in Manila  but was just kept aside, luck playing a crucial role in its fate of living to fight another day until dead ! The "Chicken Slaughteror" had a field day busy slaughtering the  loser chicken in the side of the cockpit ring.later he took the bird to a side of the cockfight complex where the tail feathers of the bird were removed and kept in a separate packet.These feathers are the feathers probably used for decorative purposes in  fashion accessories.Rest of the chicken bird was put in hot water and later dissected into pieces as in a normal chicken shop.

Cocks fighting inside "CAGE OF DEATH".

                                                                                                           A woman was in charge of boiling the hot water while her toddler child  was near her side observing the chicken slaughter.This could be the costliest "CHICKEN MEAT"  with definitely a few lakhs of Rupiahs bet on this dead fowl while its cost could be 20 to 25 U.S $'s.Next to the chicken slaughterors corner was a lavish local food stall and wonder if they had a special dish on their menu called "barbeque cockfight chicken", charging a premium for the dish.Normally the winner owner  gets possession of  the dead fowl.Language was a major obstacle and hence i couldn't discuss the finer points of Balinese cockfighting rituals with the locals at the cockfights.Did manage to speak to a local cockfighter but his answers were vague as he had difficulty of  explaining in english language.It was a total  village type carnival atmosphere with gambling , food and hawker stall  on one side of the complex outside the "Cockpit ring" .A legalized gambling casino owner would marvel at the organization and efficiency of this small illegal rural enterprise.

A "WINNER COCK" with its owner.

"BALINESE BASKET OF DEATH".

                                                    Strangely some of  the promoters of this sport disliked my photography and pointed their backside towards my camera when i tried photographing their fowl or them. Could be superstition or something i didn't understand. I didn't face any antagonism being a foreigner tourist, just curiosity  and a few  strange backside posturing.Had a "Bintang beer", the most popular beer in Indonesia .Didn't  taste any of the delicious food as my stomache was upset.After watching a few cockfights in succession, all very  similar  decided to sightsee other spots in Kuta.These cockfights would continue till approx 1600 hrs in the evening and then the next day.

COCKFIGHTS:- LEGAL AND ILLEGAL.

ARRIVAL MANILA PORT:- One of the main benefits of being employed in the “Merchant Navy” was the privileged of visiting exotic port city’s in India as well as all over the World. The life of a “Marine Engineer” on board a ship or any “Floating Vessel” is considered one of the World’s toughest professions, benefits being the incentive of touring the World free of cost while on duty. After quitting the shipping profession in 2008 and touring at my own expense I realize the facilities like “Accommodation” and “Air travel tickets” that was “Free of cost” while in the “ Mercantile Merchant Navy” consists of a large chunk of a “Private tour" or budget “Backpacker expense” account. On one of my voyages to Manila in the Philippines I came across the vicious but “poetry in motion” sport of “Cock-Fighting”. I was the 3rd Engineer on board “M.V.Rati” owned by “Essar shipping Company Ltd” and one of our port of calls happened to be Manila in the month of May 1995. The normal “ Engine Room Work Schedule” on board ships in ports is “Day-Duty” akin to a shore “Factory” where the ships machinery is serviced and overhauls or repairs conducted upto 1800 hrs or less/more depending on the importance of the preventive “Machinery Breakdown” repairs. After “Duty-Hours” its normal for a majority of the ships crew and officers to go ashore for “ local Sightseeing tour ”,”Shopping” or just a simple walk along the wharf to ease “Sailing lag!”.As for me , I was a passionate photographer on all my port sight-seeing tours and pub visits during my "Shipping Employment", living life to the maximum with a bank balance savings approaching zero!

The "COCKPIT" in Philippines which is similar to a "Boxing Ring", having  a glass fencing.

LEGALIZED COCK-FIGHTING IN MANILA :- On 29/5/1995 I decided to visit a “Cock-Fighting “ arena in Manila after visiting most of the pubs in Ermita street , the sailors hide-out because of its proximity to the harbour. We had arrived on 21-5-1995 and since then I had spent most of my wages on sightseeing and pub-hopping, also singing a duet of “Hotel California” at the “Lakay Sing- Along Club” with the local club singer. The normal money exchange rates was 1US$ = 24 Pesos(1995) and Philippines is a comparatively poor country where the difference between the wealthy and poor segment of the population is distinctly visible while touring the city through various localities. The Americal influence in Filipino style and method of living is obvious with English being widely understood, and spoken, the sport of basketball and boxing a ticket from "Rags to riches" saga of aspiring Fillipino's and the unforgettable “MUHAMMED ALI V/S JOE FRAZIER” heavyweight boxing fight later nicknamed the “Thrilla in Manila” setting a trend for tourist discoveries of the city.On 29/5/1995 I went ashore at 1530 hrs and after some inquiries got the address of the “Rolligon Stadium” which conducted “Cock-Fighting” in Manila. Went to the stadium by a taxi costing 80 pesos[Rs 100 approx] and on arrival at the stadium was surprised to find an entire closed-air stadium meant only for the national pass-time of the average Filipino, the bloodsport of "COCKFIGHTING”.

A Cockfight in progress

                                                                                                                                It was a suburb of Manila and not a posh locality and hence the economical scale at which the sport of “Cockfighting” was conducted absolutely stunned me. I had first witnessed “Cockfighting” as a teenager at my parents ancestral villages of Barkur and Sasthan( Mangalore district of Karnataka) in India where a few villagers gathered at the towns local pub(Arrack shop) and gamboled with their roosters, a totally illegal sport. “Cockfighting” has its origins in India where Maharajah’s and Nawabs weighed their “Fighting Cocks” in gold, such was their value and prestige before the abolition of the sport in India on grounds of cruelty to animals.This is a absurd excuse as “Table broiler chickens” meant for human consumption in India live a real wretched short life of torture before becoming a “Human meal” unlike the “Fighting Cocks” which are well cared during their short existence on planet Earth, some even dying of “Old-Age” after a career in the “Cock-pits” as fighter cocks and later as stud cocks ,akin to “Horse-racing”.A rooster known as a "BATTLECOCK" is pampered for the 18 months that it takes to mature from a tiny chicken into a "BATTLECOCK", fed the richest grains,vitamins( usually Centrum Silver meant for seniour citizens) and minerals to ensure speed, ferocity and tenacity.The United States is the largest supplier of "Battle Fowls" to the Philippines which consist of breeds such as Miner Blues,White hackles and Roundheads.The roosters are "Shampooed", coddled",real beautifully plumaged with some of the best of these "BATTLECOCKS" costing upto US$'s 450(10,800 pesos or Rs 21000!), a fortune in the Philippines. The "Battle Cock" roosters have their "COMB" cut as this does not allow its opponent to get a grip on it while pecking each other to death, hence their heads resemble a hens head.Took some photographs , purchased a book “TAHOR, PHILIPPINE COCKERS AND BREEDERS” edited by Chit Lijauco Macapagal and photographed by Wig Tysmans, now considered a "Collectors Book" in 2009. As usual made some local acquaintances and met some fascinating characters having a few beers at the local pub and leaving the place at 1900hrs on a “auto rickshaw” arriving at “Harrison Plaza”, later having “Shark fin crab soup” at “HongKong Teahouse”. Returned to the ship late in the night and “Merchant Navy readers” of this blog would be surprised at my “Excessive Shore Leave”, reasons, I was to “Sign Off(Leave the ship for vacation in India)” from this ship and hence the C/Eng and 2/Eng my superiors were liberal in my “Shore Leave", besides, I had worked like a “donkey” on board this vessel as this was an old ship with numerous “Engine Maintenance problems”.

Betting Frenzy  and  food carnival in the midst of "COCKFIGHTING" in Manila.

Visit to “Rolligon Cockpit “ for the “COCKFIGHT DERBY’S” :- Left for the “Rolligon Stadium” early in the morning on 30-5-1995, catching a taxi which first took me to the “Pasai Cockpit” in Pasai, a suburb of Manila. In the Philippines cockfighting is a national pastime sport, legalized and a multi-million dollar business along with “American collaboration”, since most of the best American Cockfighters bring their roosters to Manila to participate in the “Cock-Fight Derby’s”, enhancing the value of their “Fighter cock breed” if it wins since “Cockfighting” is legalized in a few states in the U.S.A. The “Pasai Cockpit” was more of a cheap rustic stadium with less prize-money and quality of “Fighting cocks” and after viewing a few fights made my way to “Rolligon Cockpit”. At the “Rolligon Cockpit stadium” the atmosphere was akin to a race day at the “Mahalaxmi race-course” in Mumbai(India) with a fleet of expensive cars filling the entire “Parking Area”.Akin to "Horse-racing", the sport of "COCKFIGHTING" attracts both, the wealthiest as well as the poorest sections of Filipino society including top Filipino politicians.In a "Cockpit stadium" like the "Rolligon Cockpit" a common Filipino can mingle and bet alongside some of the wealthiest and most powerful people of the Country, the sport being a great leveler of the classes.Entrance tickets to the stadium were 200 pesos(Rs 248 approx) for ordinary seats and 500 pesos(Rs 620) for “Ringside seats”. I happened to meet a certain Mr Rolando.S.Luzong, the manager of the Rolligon Cockpit who allowed me to photograph the “cock-pens” and also the “Cock weighing room” where the “Fighter Cocks” are weighed to get evenly matched contestants.Later, thanks to the "Internet" i realised that the ordinary and simple looking Mr Rolando.S.Luzong is a pillar of the journalist World of "Cockfighting" in the Philippines and a iam attaching his credentials downloaded from his website.

PRIZE MONEY FOR COCKFIGHTIND ADVERTISED AT THE STADIUM.

For the love of sabong : Rolando Luzong was a former managing editor of Totoy de la Cruz's Pinoy Sabungero Magasin; editor of Philippine Cockfights Newsmag of Atty. Clem Abundo; served as Roligon Mega Cockpit PR Manager for four years & General Manager for 6 years (1991-2001); publisher of Karambola Magazine; host of Karambola sa Ere radio program with Princess Naldo; was part of the group that conceptualized and launched sabong.net.ph - the most popular cockfighting website in the internet; conceptualized and started sabungero.com; conceptualized and edited Larga tabloid and a contributor in various cockfighting magazines. Lando was the first to invest in Emoy Gorgonia's Tukaan - the first sabong tv program and also in 2006 conceptualized and started the cockfights tele-magazine program Hataw Pinoy. He is currently a regular contributor to Manila Bulletin's Animal Scene Magazine with 45,000 circulation; a Consultant for Thunderbird Power Feeds & Thunderbird Power Vet; editor of the Thunderbird Gamefowl Journal and PR man for Araneta Coliseum's cockfighting events. He is actively involve in community service projects thru the civic group Tambay Kay Epoy Association which he founded (www.tambaykayepoy.multiply.com) for which he was awarded by the Beta Sigma Faternity. "All for the glory of GOD" .

"PAIRING OF COCKS" for a "COCKFIGHT".

                                                                                                                                                            Now i realize the complimentary "THUNDERBIRD T-SHIRT" personally given to me by Mr Rolando.S.Luzong is a real authentic memento from a giant journalist and patron of the legalized sport of "Cockfighting" in the Philippines.LOOKS CAN BE REALLY DECEPTIVE.

Advertisement in the "Rolligon  stadium" for a popular cockfight and the prize-money.

                                                                                                                                                               The minimum price of a fighting cock-bird was approx 5000 to 8000 Pesos(Rs 6200 to Rs 9920 only), besides, an entire “Gamboling Industry” flourished on these cock-fights, indicating the passion of “Cockfighting” among the Filipino and American cock-fighters. “Cockfighting” is a brutal and fast sport, akin to a human boxing fight , only difference being the loser cock-bird dying and the winner living to fight another cock-bird..I personally “Timed” a few of the cockfights at the “Rolligon Cockpit” with the quickest fight ending in just 23 to 24 Seconds, the loser dropping “Stone dead”. The longest fight lasted 90 seconds to 1 minute 50 seconds with the two birds brutally tearing each other apart with “Knives” as well as “Pecking”, a sport definitely not for the faint-heated although “Table-Chickens" meant for human consumption are not frowned upon by either the “S.P.C.A” nor “Animal activists”.These birds fight in a “Glass boxing ring type Arena”
akin to a “Boxing Ring” with their “Human Handlers” conducting the bird fights, refreshing the birds after a quick “Lock-in clash” and re-fighting them until one dies or is just unable to stand and fight..The similarities between the bird sport of “Cock fighting” and the human sport of “Boxing” is bizarrely brutal and similar hence “Boxing” is a very popular sport in the Philippines, especially after “Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier” fight at the Araneta Coliseum on October 1 1975 making Manila World famous in an era when “Boxing” was the world’s most popular spectator sport.

Prize money  for different forms of Cockfighting.

                                                                                                                                                                The "World Slasher cup International Derby" cockfights as well as Local Cockfights are held in the Araneta Coliseum, indicating the importance of the sport of "COCKFIGHTING" in Filipino culture and tradition. Witnessed a unique “DRAW” where both the fighter cock-birds died simultaneously with the “Ring Judge” unable to decide which bird died first!Both the birds just had a “Head-On Collision” and fell dead on the ring arena, something bizarre to a first time spectator. Visited the “Medical room” where winner cock-birds are stitched by expert “Fighter cock practitioners”, exposing the physical punishment and “Death wounds” that these species of “poultry birds” can take and yet survive to fight another day, until they themselves become losers, ultimately, a rare few “Top fighter birds” being retired by their handlers for “Stud breeding” akin to “Horse-racing”. Left the “Rolligon Cockpit” late in the night and went to a “Discotheque” dancing away the morning and returning to the ship at 0330 hrs on 31-5-2005.. Met my reliever Mr Debashis Bhattacharjee who had arrived from India the previous day and after handing him over my “3/Eng engine maintenance work log books” signed- off the ship “M.V.Nand Rati” on 1-6-1995 at 0430 hrs . Was put up in room No 203 at the “Admiral Hotel” on Roxas Boulevard, a 3- star hotel situated in a posh locality of Manila by the company’s shipping agent in Manila,Mr Gary. Walked along the vicinity and visited the local Manila zoo and also got a closer look at the slums of Manila where a "Fighter Cock" was tethered to a post outside almost every slum house. Checked out of the hotel at 1330 hrs on 1-6-1995, boarded the plane at Manila airport and reached Mumbai after a transit at Singapore airport reached Mumbai at 0130 hrs on 2-6-1995.
Manny.Pacquiao, a unknown  Filipino  when i visited Manila in 1995 is in 2011 the Country's most famous sportsman, the World's top-flight boxer  and a Senator.He was an avid cock-fighter before he became a Senator and wouldn't be surprised if the sport of "Cock-Fighting" ignited the spark of boxing in Manny who held   World boxing records in various different  weights.

Mr Krisnappa massaging the wings of his "Fighter Cock".(30-5-2001).A Total illegal but popular village blood-sport in India.(Postcard photo converted to Digital)

ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING IN BANGALORE:- The cockfights that I witnessed at the “Rolligon” and “Pasai” cockpits in Manila left a lasting impression and I tried to do my own research of the sport in my native country,India.

"CHICKEN CROSSING THE STREET" :- In 2001 the suburbs of Bangalore city were the equivalent of a village as was Banaswadi our  residence in Bangalore.Small cottage style houses with ample tree's and greenery. Notice this aged "Asil Cock" with its martial style walking gait boldly crossing the lonely road ."Asil Breed" fowls are also bred for common chicken meat .In India "ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING" is a big money sport in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu during the 3 day  Hindu festival of "Makar Sankranthi" in the month of January.In the State of Tamil Nadu the festival is celebrated as "Pongal" .If a tourist and visiting South India in the month of January then witnessing the "Makar Sankranthi" cockfights in the West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh would be a unique off beat tourism experience.Punters buy cocks as per the advice of astrologers.Crores of rupees change hands during "COCKFIGHTS". .

My career took me through various shipping companies and ships and thanks to the invention of the “Internet” I got to access cockfighting in the Philippines through the site “sabong .com” also observing occasional village cockfights in my parents native villages.I had  a holiday home in Bangalore which I often visited while on vacation from shipboard employment and in 2001 Bangalore was still a comparatively smaller city with cultivation fields in its far flung suburbs and my own cottage a home for roosting squirrels. Once , while cycling along a suburban unpopulated area of Bangalore I came across fighter roosters kept in pens and hence

Autorickshaw driver Krishnappa exercising his prized " Fight Roosters" in Kalkare village of Bangalore

I inquired with their owner, a auto-rickshaw driver who confirmed that he owned this fighter cocks indicating that “Cockfighting” did exist in Bangalore.In India "Cockfighting" is considered a poor mans entertainment sport and entertainment, especially in villages and is illegal. He agreed to take me to a local cockfight which was in a far flung suburb of the city, conducted in some fields. I contacted my school and childhood friend Biju.J.Karian also a "Marine Engineer" who lived close to my residence in Bangalore about a days outing to view an unconventional bird sport conducted by the villagers at Kalkare village. Biju agreed to come along with another of our school mate Leonard.Aarons who at that particular time was also a professional “Press Photo-journalist”, hence the excitement of viewing something different and uncommon.

Kalkare Village  Cockfights :- Reviving the Cockbird after a first round of "Cockfight". Water is forced into the bird's throat .

It was a long drive on Sunday (24-6-2001) to the local “Cockfighting arena” of Kalkare Village in Biju’s car, guided by Krishnappa the auto rickshaw man who was also a participant in these “Cock-fights”. On arrival at the “Cock-Fighting field” we were surprised at the massive crowd of villagers gathered together with their “cockfighting Birds”, reminding me of Pasai cockpit in Manila, only difference that these “cockfights” were conducted in an open out-door arena and the “ring” being a “human- circle formed around the “Fighting-cocks”.

COCKFIGHT in progress. Notice the knife tied to the right leg of each Cockbird.

In India most of the best "Battle-cocks" were of the "Asil Breed", a breed patronized by the Princely rulers when the sport was a aristocratic pass-time, hence most of the local illegal village "Battle-cocks" have a "Mix Asil" strain in their genes as the "ORIGINAL ASIL FOWLS" have almost become extinct due to out-crossing with common poultry fowls after the sport became "ILLEGAL" in India.In India the best "Battle-cocks" are from Hyderabad and South India as the sport still flourishes illegally amongst villagers and "Village Aristocrats".

This was one of the prized Asil breed cockbirds owned by Autorickshaw driver Krishnappa and it was the winner of 3 cockfights. Its ferocity can be gauged by its crowing posture .In 2001 Kalkere was a distant village of Bangalore 

These cockfights were more brutal since unlike the legalized professional cockfights of the Philippines these cock-birds were meant for just fighting to death on this particular day, the winning cock-bird, although alive, later bleeding to death due to its wounds not being sutured .The villager whose cock-bird won the fight by outliving its opponent and later succumbing to its fatal wounds finally had the pleasure of having the loser as well as his winner for a sumptuous chicken meal, besides, winning some betting money on his bird, simple gamboling pleasures of Indian village life.”Fighter cock” chicken meat is considered a delicacy as these birds are specially fed and bred unlike the common “Broiler Chicken” sold in Markets, hence sold at a premium. I personally feel that "COCKFIGHTING" is less cruel than the "CAGED BROILER CHICKENS" transported in inhumane conditions to city markets and later slaughtered for "HUMAN CONSUMPTION".Agreed, the "ILLEGAL BETTING" on "COCKFIGHTS" is a crime since it can lead to a "Law and Order" disturbance due to "Non-regulatory betting". The entire day was like a single day picnic outing for us city bred individuals and hence we waited till the last fight and returned home.In 2009 "Kalkare Village" in Bangalore is being converted into a township and cockfighting in its fields are a part of history of which we city dwellers were once witnesses.

Having observed "COCKFIGHTING" in Manila and India decided to breed a "Asil Cock" at my residence in Mumbai. Asil hen "Queen Rat" purchased as a tiny chick for Rs 200(US$ 6) in 2000. NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "QUEEN RAT" AND THE COMMON "BROILER CHICKENS' IN THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE CAGES OF MUMBAI. After effects of viewing "Cock-fights" in Manila and also in India and admiring their beautiful poise and characteristics convinced me to try keeping one as a pet in my flat in Mumbai.I purchased this Asil fowl as a chick from "Crawford Market" which developed into a hen rather than a male fighter cock.I named her "Queen Rat" and she was with us for almost 1 1/2 year, later' donating her along with  Rs 500 as maintenance o the "S.P.C.A" for safe-keeping as i couldn't keep it in a confined apartment house .I told the authorities not to slaughter it for "Chicken Meat" and hope it died a natural death which ranges from 3-10 years.It was not "Chicken Brained" as is the normal phrase, since "Chickens" are just meant for "Broiler food Consumption" and hence never studied much, except by veterinarian scientists and laboratories. This hen was smart,and  could recognize "Home members" and was also very "Territorial" being a "Fighter Breed Hen" and not the normal "Broiler breed chicken"."Asil Fowls" are the fighter breed fowls used in "Illegal Cockfights" in India, having previously enjoyed royal patronage when the sport of "Cockfighting" was a "Royal passion". 

IS SLAUGHTERING AND TRANSPORT OF CHICKENS IN THIS MANNER LESS CRUEL THAN COCK-FIGHTING ? A photograph  of a visit to the largest "Chicken Auction Market" in Kolkata.

THE LATEST ON "ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING" IN INDIA IS GIVEN FROM A "NEWSPAPER ARTICLE".
NAVI MUMBAI:(DATED Monday 17-9-2009 in "Times of India") The New Panvel police on Saturday night busted a betting racket in cockfighting and arrested 143 people from a farmhouse under the
Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Those arrested include mainly businessmen from Mumbai, Pune as well as Mangalore.

Talking to TOI, deputy commissioner of police (zone 2) Ashok Dudhe said, "The New Panvel police carried out a raid at Abhishek farmhouse in Waje village near Panvel. A cash amount of Rs 2.1 lakh was seized along with some of the cocks that were used in the betting matches.''

Small knives were tied to the feet of the birds so that they could fatally wound the rival fighter cock. The spectators placed bets on the birds while enjoying the blood-sport.

Over 25 live cocks were rescued by the police, but they have been kept in a dark room at the police station.

"We will soon call a veterinarian to take care of the birds. The farmhouse belongs to one Tukaram Patil, who has also been arrested,'' said Dudhe.

According to the police, the racket was well managed and held during the weekends at the farmhouse. Several high-end cars were later seen parked within the farmhouse's premises as many people ran out and hid in the nearby villages as soon as the police raid began a little after 8.15 pm on Saturday.

On Sunday afternoon, the feathery remains of some of the dead birds were seen scattered in the sealed farmhouse. "The losing bird was immediately killed in the farmhouse, cooked and served to the guests,'' said an official.
PLAYING "DEVILS ADVOCATE" IN SUPPORT OF "COCKFIGHTING" :- HAVING SUBMITTED A COMPLETE UNBIASED VIEW OF THE SPORT OF "BATTLECOCK FIGHTING" I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOUR OF THE SPORT NOT BEING "BANNED" IN COUNTRY'S WHERE IT ALREADY EXISTS AS A "LEGAL BLOODSPORT". ARE THE "BROILER CHICKENS" IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS LOOKING BETTER THAN THE "BATTLECOCK BIRDS", BOTH, IN MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS PLUMAGE ? IS SLAUGHTERING OF "BROILER CHICKENS" CONFINED IN CLAUSTROPHOBIC CAGES LESS CRUEL THAN "BATTLECOCK CHICKENS" WHICH FIGHT TO DEATH AFTER LIVING A WELL CARED 'CHICKEN LIFE" OF AT LEAST A YEAR ? GAMBOLING IS PREVALENT IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE,BEGINNING WITH WEATHER FORECASTS AND ENDING WITH "RUSSIAN ROULETTE", "COCKFIGHTING" BEING SOMEWHERE IN-BETWEEN AS AN "SOCIETY EVIL SIN". HOPE I HAVE PRESENTED MY CASE IN FAVOUR OF CONTINUATION OF THE ROYAL BLOODSPORT OF "COCKFIGHTING".