Korean Air has banned the transportation of roosters on aircraft serving routes from the United States to the Philippines, amid allegations of birds being trafficked between the two countries for cockfighting.
The South Korean flag carrier did not reference the bloodsport specifically in its press releases, but said in a statement to the AFP it had “suspended the transportation of roosters of all ages on routes from the United States to the Philippines”, adding that “Korean Air is committed to the lawful and safe transport of live animals, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.”
The move follows long-term pressure from animal rights campaign groups in the Philippines and elsewhere, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in the Philippines, and Animal Wellness Action. The latter said in a statement that the ban comes after “months of investigations, and more recent inter-corporate engagement.” The airline “agreed to our demand to halt all shipments of roosters to the Philippines,” it said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for PETA said they “commend Korean Air” and “hope that other airlines will follow suit” since cockfighting “should be illegal all over the world.”
Cockfighting, an activity in which roosters are placed in a pit or on a stage in front of a wagering public audience, in order to fight each other to the death, remains popular in Asia, Latin America, and Spain. Even though it is illegal in all 50 states of America, US breeding programmes are said to produce particularly dominant strains of birds, making them an export that is much in demand.
@juliuseze001 Chicken fight to death
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Criminals passing themselves off as legitimate breeders are alleged to be sending “tens of thousands” of cocks to the Philippines every year, relying on a reputation that is “second to none when it comes to propagation of breeding materials,” one Filipino bird farmer in the southern Philippine city of Tagum told reporters.
Although online betting on cockfighting was prohibited in the Philippines in 2022, the industry retains notoriety for cruelty—and profitability. The price for an individual fighting bird can reach as much as $2,000 (over €1,700) according to Animal Wellness Action. With an estimated 40,000 roosters sold from the United States to the Philippines each year, that amounts to a “sector” value of around $80 million, or €68 million. The practice has given Korean Air the dubious title of “the biggest global air carrier of illegally trafficked fighting birds,” in the world, according to Animal Wellness Action—a name the carrier will be keen to shake off.
