As the name suggests, bloodsports refer to certain sports that involve innocent animals’ bloodshed. 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, bullfighting, dog fighting, bear-baiting, and badger baiting are 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 practiced in some nations as human entertainment.
In hare coursing, animals like hounds are made to chase the fragile hares. They are made to track the harmless hares by sight, not the commonly practiced scent. It is often practiced as gambling, and the organizers tend to provide an excuse behind organizing such barbaric events as essential for controlling the population of hares or sharpening sighthounds’ skills. Though banned in some nations as illegal, it is still contained in most parts of the world as a competitive and regulated sport.
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Those in favor of this barbaric cruelty have long been placing arguments in favor of hare coursing. However, without notable scientific ideas, it is still established as a welfare practice. The coursing events, like Waterloo cups, have kept the heinous crime against innocent animals. The courses tend to organize the sports until every hare of the area has been killed. The sport has swapped away almost 80% of the total hare population of the United Kingdom. With the coursing culture strongly embedded and the promising rewards behind the events, the sadistic organizers are even using arms.
Bullfighting is another blood sport actively organized in some of the world’s most developed nations. It is an impressive form of entertainment in countries like France, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and The Philippines. Followers regard it as fine art, while the detractors call for a ban on this heinous blood sport.
Bullfighting is Not Artistic- It Is a Barbaric Blood Sport!
The supporters have been linking bullfighting 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 too fragile to continue further, the bull is killed with a single blow by the cruel blade of a sword. In Portugal, killing a bull in the arena has been declared illegal, so the fighting bull is later slaughtered as fighting bulls are to be considered only once.
In dogfighting, the participating dogs are made to fight sometimes until death. It is often used as a means of entertainment and for gambling and betting. In places where dog fighting is prohibited by law, it is secretly practiced in other crimes and inter-group violence. Dogfighting often leads to illegal gambling, racketeering, drug peddling, gang violence, and other crimes.
Animal rights activists have been raising their concerns over dog fighting because of the pain and suffering the animals undergo during the fights and their tragic end after the event. It is one of the most heinous forms of animal abuse. The animal is often subjected to cruel handling during the training process. This horrific crime against animals is popular in countries like Australia, India, Japan, South America, North America, Russia, South Africa, the U.K., and more.
Cockfighting is one of the most common forms of blood sport, and it is still practiced in almost all nations across the globe. It is also associated with religious ceremonies as a ritual. The birds are equipped with sharp arms like blades and knives to inject severe blows to the opponents. Though not an established industry like dogfighting or bullfighting, it is a commonly practiced gambling form.
Most nations are banning secular cockfighting, but still, the followers argue in its favor, calling it a means of entertainment. This cruelty still exists in a 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 baits with one or more hounds. Bear baiting has been recognized as a part of blood sports and has been abolished by most nations across the globe.
Animal fighting is taking the shape of organized crime. The heavy amount of money involved often promotes other crimes like drug trafficking, gang wars, and more. Millions of innocent animals are being killed for art and entertainment. The animals are subjected to horrendous tortures throughout training and then brutally slaughtered in the name of the game. The animals and the Matadors also risk their lives for fear of being gored or trampled by the agitated animal.
No argument placed in favor of brutal 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 the animals involved in the game, but the groups engaged in gang wars often raise them against each other.
The Matadors in bullfighting enter the arena during the game’s conclusion with a red cloth to mask blood and prepare the animal for the final kill. Though meant for such a brutal attempt, it is done in a way that 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 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 exemplify 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 fellow human beings and all the living beings on the earth.
It is not ethical and humane to organize these barbaric blood sports just for mere entertainment. We have many forms of passing our time these days. Instead of engaging 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. There are numerous cruelty-free options if we want to engage ourselves in any form of adventure sports.
We can go mountain climbing, yachting, paragliding, angling, rowing, etc. These activities are extremely entertaining, great for our health, and bring us closer to nature. Some are group activities and can help strengthen bonds with friends, family, and peers. Next time you plan to go for blood sports, ask yourself what you will 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 bullfighting and dog fighting have become a part of a tradition deep-rooted among the followers. However, they must rid themselves of it like we have done away with orthodox and superstitious beliefs. If we dislike any form of abuse, we shouldn’t cause physical and mental abuse to other living beings. We must acknowledge that blood sport is a crime against the animal community.
Moreover, when engaging in sports like hare coursing and bear fighting, we threaten nature. It not only imbalances the food chain but also creates risks for the existence of endangered species. Animals have been our companions. We must respect their coexistence and continue our presence in harmony and cooperation.
