Fighting Roosters Still Popular in Egypt

Breeding chickens is a common tradition among farming communities in Egypt. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Hamdino Elsharkawy has been breeding a unique strain of poultry known as Indian fighters for 40 years. His wife, Omu Karim, began helping him after they were married 24 years ago. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

On a remote patch of barren land in the farming village of Tattay in Tanta, Egypt, bettors gather in a makeshift tent for Indian rooster fights each Thursday night. Betting and animal fights are illegal in Egypt. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

The Indian rooster fight is an old tradition in Egypt with rules to ensure the cocks are of similar weights and appear roughly equal in size. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Referees release the fighting roosters at the beginning of the two-hour match. No one other than the referees is allowed into the arena, not even the owners of the fighting roosters. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

An Indian fighting rooster will often keep fighting and not give up until death or fainting. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

The fight ends when one of the roosters faints, or runs away from the other. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

It is impossible for even the winning rooster to end the match without a bleeding head, sometimes even losing an eye or breaking a beak. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Ahmed Gamal, 28, owner of the winning Indian rooster named Max, says, "I am glad he did not lose an eye, I will put him for more fighting matches but not tonight." (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Injured Indian roosters usually need antibiotics and vitamins for a few days after the fight. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Hamdino, who raises Indian hens and roosters only for their eggs and meat, feeds his Indian hens and roosters vegan fodder, unlike those who put the roosters to fighting and feed them uncooked meat or liver. (H. Elrasam/VOA)