Blood sports as the name suggests, refers to certain forms of sports that involve bloodshed of innocent animals. It involves engaging the animals in a fierce fight against each other and often ends with the death of one or all the animals involved.
Hare coursing, bull fighting, dog fighting, bear baiting, and badger baiting are the common examples of blood sports.
Animal Rights and Animal welfare activists have long been making an outcry against such barbaric sports and have been instrumental in shutting down most of them. However, these sports are still being practiced in some of the nations as a form of human entertainment.
In hare coursing, animals like hounds are made to chase the fragile hares. They are made to chase the harmless hares by sight and not by the much commonly practiced scent. It is practiced often as gambling, and the organizers tend to provide an excuse behind organizing such barbaric events as essential for controlling the population of hares or for sharpening the skills of sight hounds. Though banned in some of the nations as illegal, it is still organized in most of the parts of the world as a competitive and regulated sport.
Those in favor of this barbaric cruelty have long been placing arguments in favor of hare coursing. However, in the absence of notable scientific arguments, it is still to be established as a welfare practice. The coursing events, like Waterloo cups, have still kept the heinous crime against innocent animals going. The coursers tend to organize the sports until every single hare of the area has been killed. The sport has swapped away almost 80% of the total hare population of United Kingdom. With the culture of coursing strongly imbedded and the promising rewards behind the events, the sadistic organizers are even using arms.
Bullfighting is another blood sport which is actively being organized in some of the most developed nations of the world. It is found to be an impressive form of entertainment in nations like France, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and The Philippines. Followers regard it as a fine art, while the detractors have been calling a ban on this heinous blood sport.
Bullfighting is Not Artistic-It Is a Barbaric Blood Sport!
The supporters have been linking bull fighting with their culture and tradition, comparing the horrific act with arts like music and dance. The bull is hooked on its shoulders by the cruel matadors on several occasions. After it has received multiple blows and seems to be too fragile to continue further, the bull is killed with a single blow by the cruel blade of a sword. In Portugal, it has been declared illegal to kill a bull in the arena so the fighting bull is later slaughtered as fighting bulls are to be considered only once.
In dog fighting, the participating dogs are made to fight sometimes until death. It is often used as a means of entertainment and for gambling and betting. The places where dog fighting is prohibited by law, it is surreptitiously practiced in relation to other crimes and inter-group violence. Dog fighting often gives birth to illegal gambling, racketeering, drug peddling, gang violence, and other crimes.
Animal right activists have been raising their concerns over dog fighting not only because of the pain and suffering the animals undergo during the fights, but because of their tragic end after the event. It is one of the most heinous forms of animal abuse. The animal is often subjected to cruel and inhumane handling during the training process. This heinous crime against animals is popular in countries like Australia, India, Japan, South America, North America, Russia, South Africa, U.K., and more.
Cock fighting is one of the most common forms of blood sport and it is still practiced in almost all the nations across the globe. It is also associated with religious ceremonies as ritual. The birds are equipped with sharp arms like blades and knives so that they can inject severe blows to the opponents. Though it is not an established industry like dog fighting or bull fighting yet, it is a commonly practiced form of gambling.
Secular cock fighting is being banned by most of the nations, but still the followers argue in its favor, calling it as a means of entertainment. This cruelty still exists in few parts of the globe as a religious custom. It was once associated with royalties but now being abandoned by them, this sport is secretly being performed as a part of gambling.
Bear baiting is also a form of blood sport wherein the bear is engaged in baiting with one or more hounds. Bear baiting has been recognized as a part of blood sports and has been abolished by most of the nations across the globe.
Animal fighting is taking the shape of organized crime. With the heavy amount of money being involved, it often promotes other crimes like drug trafficking, gang wars, and more. Millions of innocent animals are being killed in the name of art and entertainment. The animals are subjected to horrendous tortures throughout the process of training and then brutally slaughtered in the name of the game. Not only the animals but the matadors also risk their life with the fear of being gored or trampled by the agitated animal.
No argument placed in favor of barbaric blood sports can make them justified. Being outlawed, these sports are being practiced these days under clandestine closures. The organizers often end up in a fierce fight among themselves.
Possessions of illegal and legal arms are also a part of the sport. Such weapons are not only used for inducing pain and slaughtering of the animals involved in the game, but the groups engaged in gang wars often raise them against each other.
The matadors in bull fighting enter the arena during the conclusion of the game with a red color cloth to mask blood and to prepare the animal for the final kill. Though meant for such brutal attempt, it is done in a way that it produces a beautiful appeal over the sadistic onlookers. The foolish followers have been claiming it as an art form, but in a civilized and educated society where we claim to exist today, can we call an event involving slaughtering and cruel bloodshed as an art form? I think not!
These forms of entertainment prevailed in the medieval era when there weren’t many sources of entertainment. The type and nature of the sports exemplifies its primitive form, and it shouldn’t have found its application in a civilized and ethical society. Being born as humans, it is one of our essential duties to safeguard the rights of not only fellow human beings, but of all the living beings on the earth.
It not ethical and humane to organize these barbaric blood sports just in the name of mere entertainment. We have many forms of passing our times these days. Instead of getting engaged in such outlawed activities and propagating illegal and criminal activities, we can channel our energy more productively and learn new ways to improve ourselves and our race. If we want to engage ourselves in any form of adventure sports, there are numerous cruelty-free options.
We can go for mountain climbing, yachting, paragliding, angling, rowing, etc. These activities are not only extremely entertaining, but are great for our health and bring us close to nature as well. Some are group activities and can help strengthen bonds with friends, family, and peers. So, next time you plan to go for blood sports, just ask yourself once what will you get from it, and if you don’t participate, what are you giving back to the living beings on the planet?
End Cruel Blood Sport of Fox Hunting in Ireland
Events like bull fighting and dog fighting have become a part of tradition, and it is deep-rooted among the followers. However, they must rid themselves of it the way we have done away with orthodox and superstitious beliefs. If we dislike any form of abuse, we shouldn’t cause such physical and mental abuse to other living beings. We must acknowledge that blood sport is a crime toward the animal community.
Moreover, when getting engaged in sports like hare coursing and bear fighting, we are creating a threat to nature. It not only imbalances the food chain, but also creates risk for the existence of endangered species. Animals have been our companions. We must respect their coexistence with us and continue our existence in mutual harmony and cooperation.