It's a regular scene in rural Java — and it's stomach-churning. Dozens of people encircle a small, sunken pit. The pit is ringed with sharpened bamboo to protect the crowd from the bloody spectacle below.
Thoughout the event,
wild boars and dogs are forced to fight — viciously goring and biting at each other until just one animal is left standing.
This is animal cruelty of the worst kind. Marison Guciano, an animal rights activist in Indonesia, describes it bluntly as "a criminal act against animals."
These animal fights are little more than a cruel spectacle. The often-fatal animal fights only began in the 1960s. Yet some locals defend the "contests" as a cultural tradition that must be protected.
The real motivation behind this particular death sport is more predictable — namely, cash. Dog fighters can take in up to $2,000 if their canine wins. Dog breeders also fight their animals so they can leverage the notoriety of their fighting dogs to sell more animals at higher prices.
The animal cruelty on Java Island has gone on too long. That's why Care2 is calling on animal lovers around the world to demand that the Governor of West Java immediately shut down these animal fights.
No living creature should be forced to defend its life for the mere amusement of another. Add your name now and be a voice for a more humane and compassionate world. 