Thousands gathered at a recent festival in Leishan County, Ghizhou province, to watch a death match between two large male pigs. The crowd cheered as the animals circled each other, and trainers poked them with sticks to provoke them. The two pigs then headbutted and bit at each others throat until one killed the other in a bloody and gruesome display.
Such "sports" are very popular in China's Ghizhou province, and involve stallions and water buffalo as well as pigs. With stallion fights, trainers present a mare in heat to drive the animals mad with lust, then put her in a pen while the males fight to the death for the right to mate with her. The losing stallion drops dead from exhaustion or injuries.
Festival officials have been ignoring calls from animal rights activists to end the practice. One trainer says, "We know the world frowns on this but for us it is an ancient tradition. We will not stop these contests because they are a part of our culture."
Tradition is not a good enough reason to continue a practice that everyone knows is cruel in this age. Please sign the petition to ban these animal death matches!
We are concerned with animal death matches that have been taking place in Ghizhou province. We understand that thousands gathered at a recent festival in Leishan County, Ghizhou province, to watch a death match between two large male pigs. The crowd cheered as the animals circled each other, and trainers poked them with sticks to provoke them. The two pigs then headbutted and bit at each others throat until one killed the other in a bloody and gruesome display.
Similar death fights involve stallions and water buffalo as well as pigs. With stallion fights, trainers present a mare in heat to drive the animals mad with lust, then put her in a pen while the males fight to the death for the right to mate with her. The losing stallion drops dead from exhaustion or injuries.
Festival officials have been ignoring calls from animal rights activists to end the practice. One trainer says, "We know the world frowns on this but for us it is an ancient tradition. We will not stop these contests because they are a part of our culture."
Tradition is not a good enough reason to continue a practice that everyone knows is cruel in this age. China has been making strides recently in respecting the rights of animals, and we believe this is a good time to end these senseless and violent animal fights. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
