About the Photographs

As you work your way through these images, you will likely be impressed both by how gentle as well as how ferocious these great animals seem. While some fighting bulls may exhibit human aggression, the majority do not and, in fact, may regularly be in close proximity to other fighting bulls during exercise walks or in adjacent stables with no excitement ensuing. The photographs present a narrative descriptive of the care and handling of the Thai fighting bull leading up to, during, and after the actual "fight day" when animal squares off against animal. Unlike cock fighting or dog fighting, owners of these beautiful creatures want their animals to exit a match alive and without grave injury. A bull would typically start fighting around five years old and continue in the ring for eight years or so. Viewing the images, keep in mind that no animal was seriously injured in any of these fights. Hard to believe the way they go at it. But an owner will "throw in the towel" if he sees his bull is clearly outmatched. Of course he wants the animal to take away a victory, but exiting the ring with the experience of a hard-fought match and with only minor injury is just fine.

Owning a prize fighting animal, and even more so a large licensed venue, is an indication of financial and political power. The sport, itself, binds together many small rural communities in Southern Thailand and continues to exist on the Malay Peninsula in the provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkla.

An individual with the right bull, a bit of land, and know-how will pamper an animal giving it daily exercise sessions, feeding it premium forage, keeping it protected from insects. A common joke is that a bull owner will take better care of his animal than of his wife and kids. Within small rural communities any number of individuals raising animals routinely meet both to train their bulls and to judge their natural aggression. Not all bulls want to fight. When villagers identify a strong, fast, aggressive animal in their stables, that's the bull that is trucked to a large regional gathering where a matchmaker pairs animal to animal. They'll meet in the ring in the near future during the two or three days a month when fights are scheduled. Akin to prize fighting in the boxing ring, less experienced bulls fight earlier in the day and the big purse match occurs as the finale. A lot of money changes hands through the victor's purse, wagers made — you'll see people placing and modifying bets as a match unfolds — and by way of the many products and services — parking, entrance fees, food, drink, tie-downs, green forage, etc. — sold in the semi-permanent and pop-up booths occupying the land surrounding the actual ring. Residents of a village that sends a bull will often accompany the animal chosen from their midst. They'll pool funds to finance the entry fee and to place bets. A winning bull of experience and known ferocity — that "main event" end-of-the-day bull — can bring its sponsors tens of thousands of dollars.