Cockfight

Photo essays

Jan Sochor Photography

Photo essays, photojournalism series, documentary and travel photography

Cockfighting cocks are great warriors. They never stop struggling. They may bleed, they may have punctured lungs, both eyes pecked out but they naturally fight to the death.

Cocks fighting in the arena, Villavicencio, Colombia.

There is always gambling involved in cockfights. The amount of bets depends on the name of these breeders who take part in cockfights.

A Colombian breeder of cocks taking bets on his cock before the beginning of the match in the arena of San Miguel, Bogota, Colombia.

Cockfight breeders usually cut their cock's feather off to create different shapes and so to make the birds visually attractive.

A fighting cock in the cage before the beginning of the match in the arena of San Miguel, Bogota, Colombia.

Gallera San Miguel (Bogotá), one of the most prestigious cockfight arenas in Colombia.

Colombian spectators watching a cockfight in the arena of San Miguel, Bogota, Colombia.

The cocks are equipped with tortoise-shell made gaffs tied to the bird's leg. Gaffs make the cockfight much shorter (up to 15 minutes maximum).

A Colombian trainer preparing a cock for the match, Bogota, Colombia.

The fight preparation of a cock (gaffs attachment, activation of the bird,...) is a complex procedure which may last half an hour or more.

Venezuelan trainers preparing cocks for the match in Cabure, Venezuela.

Cock attacks using its pecker and its claws. Birds run fast inside the ring trying to get away from rival's drives.

A white fighting cock covered in blood attacking its rival in the arena in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Cockfights attract all type of men, no matter the age neither the social status. Women are rarely seen.

Colombian spectators watching a highly emotional cockfight in the arena in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Cocks are specially trained to increase their aggression, stamina and to improve their fighting techniques, basically in the same way like professional athletes are.

A Colombian cock trainer observing a training cockfight in Villavicencio, Colombia.

Cockfight is a bloody spectacle. If a fighting cock wins certain number of matches they keep him for reproduction and do not let him fight anymore.

A fight winning cock covered in blood held by its owner in the arena in Santa Marta, Colombia.

The owner is trying to save his cock's life after he lost the match. Brave cocks are highly treasured and one lost doesn't mean much while coincidence plays an important role in cockfights.

A Venezuelan man trying to save the life of the injured cock after he lost the match in Cabure, Venezuela.

Cock's comb and wattle are cut off in the age of three months. Those body parts would bleed a lot if hit by pecker during the match.

A cock fighting rooster in a breeding station close to Cucuta, Colombia.

The trainer prepares his cock champion for a fight. There are a lot of tricks to get the bird into the right fighting condition.

A Colombian trainer preparing a cock champion for the match in Santa Marta, Colombia.

The owner is inspecting his cock's injuries after a very tough match in Gallera San Miguel (Bogotá).

Colombian men inspecting fighting cock's injuries after a very tough match in Gallera San Miguel, Bogotá, Colombia.

The cock trainer holding his trainee during the drill.

A Colombian cock trainer holding his trainee during the drill in a breeding station close to Cucuta, Colombia.

Cockfight

Colombia and Venezuela – March-July 2006

Cockfight is a widely popular and legal sporting event in much of Latin America. The fight is usually held in an arena (gallera) with seats for spectators. People take advantage of cock's natural, strong will to fight against all males of the same species. Birds are specially bred to increase their aggression and stamina, they are given the best of food and care. The cocks are equipped with tortoise-shell made gaffs tied to the bird's leg. The fight is not intentionally to the death but it may result in the death of cocks very often because birds never stop fighting till they are dead. There is always gambling involved in cockfights.

Photography by Jan Sochor
Music by Teddy Douglas feat. Francesco ‘The Violin’ – “The Caribou”, Maxims de Paris (2002)

Buy license & download