Colombia's Cockfighting Tradition Faces Extinction After Landmark Court Ban
On the outskirts of Cartagena, far from the city's historic facades and Caribbean views, a crowd of about 300 people erupted into a roar. While Colombians are passionate about football, these cheers followed the bloody climax of a bout in a cockfighting ring, where white padded walls were splattered with blood. The Santa María cockfighting arena, one of the largest and most important venues in Cartagena and the Bolívar department, hosted over 100 fights that evening, with each killing blow met with enthusiastic shouts from the mostly male bettors.
The End of an Era for Cockfighting
Cockfighting, introduced by Spanish colonisers, remains highly popular in Colombia, but its days are now numbered. In September, a constitutional court ruling banned the practice, establishing a three-year "transition" period. During this time, the government must provide alternative livelihoods for the tens of thousands of people who rely on cockfighting. The arena received 220 roosters from different areas of the city on 11 October 2025, with each owner paying 1,000,000 Colombian pesos (about £193) per bird. José Ramirez, one of the evening's judges, estimated that 115 fights could be held that night, likely concluding by dawn the next day.
Cultural Heritage Versus Animal Cruelty
"I was horrified by the court's ruling," said Alí Viveros, 38, who breeds about 50 fighting cocks and owns a shop selling specialised supplies for other breeders. "Cockfighting is a tradition, it's part of our culture." He referenced Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, where an insult at a cockfight sparks a duel leading to the founding of Macondo. Viveros emphasised the economic impact, noting that many families depend on the industry, including galleros, food vendors, doormen, judges, cleaners, and cage makers.
The national cockfighting federation estimates nearly 10,000 arenas nationwide and between 270,000 and 290,000 families reliant on the activity. However, animal rights organisations dispute these figures, citing informality and lack of reliable data. The court has ordered a government survey to establish exact involvement numbers.
Political and Ethical Debates Intensify
Andrea Padilla, a senator instrumental in the ban, argued against cultural justification for cruelty. "Until recently, child marriage was also considered an acceptable cultural practice in Colombia. The fact that something is deeply rooted does not mean it's morally valid," she said. The court's ruling also upheld bans on bullfights, coleo, and corralejas, with a rightwing senator introducing a bill to roll back the ban, claiming these activities are part of the nation's heritage. This proposal is in early legislative stages.
The court's central justification was that cultural tradition cannot legitimise violence, suffering, or deliberate killing of sentient beings. Fabián Montes, 60, a leading cock breeder with about 1,000 birds, countered, "And what about the chickens and cattle we kill to eat – aren't they sentient too?" Montes, a dentist, claimed the animals fight due to their "natural condition" and are not mistreated, suggesting regulation over ban.
Training and Practices Under Scrutiny
Scientific research indicates some breeds have a combat predisposition from centuries of artificial selection. Once identified as a "fighter," chicks undergo training with simulated bouts or aerobic exercises. Breeders claim fewer than 20% of cocks die during fights, but Padilla says the figure is higher, noting, "The objective is always for one to die." At a recent fight, The Guardian witnessed judges pushing birds to attack, with one dying at the end.
Roosters have their combs, wattles, and feathers trimmed, and natural spurs replaced with artificial ones made of metal, resin, or bone, fixed with hot wax and tape. Each pair costs between £0.67 and £0.96.
Challenges Ahead for Transition and Enforcement
Padilla warned that the government is not moving adequately to find alternative livelihoods, risking clandestine operations post-2028. "Staging a cockfight is very easy – all it takes is a small space where people can gather, place bets and put two cocks to fight," she said. "To think that a law can simply erase a cultural practice is absurd. Laws do not perform miracles." The government did not respond to requests for comment, leaving the future of this centuries-old tradition uncertain as Colombia grapples with balancing heritage and ethics.
