| Spider Fighting |
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Spider fighting (''pahibag sang damang'' in Hiligaynon ) is a popular Blood Sport among Rural Filipino children. The game begins by placing two Spider s at opposite ends of a stick from a ''walis ting-ting'' (a broom made from the Midribs of Coconut leaves). The spiders are then led to one another until they wrestle. The first one to drop off the stick loses.1 Top fighters can fetch up to 100 pesos (2 US$), making the sport a lucrative market for children. HARVESTING AND CARE The spiders are usually caught in trees and bushes, although some favor those found spinning Webs along Power Lines . These are believed to be more aggressive and much tougher fighters since spiders that live in areas exposed to predators fight better than those that live in secluded isolation. Spiders with slender bodies and long legs are also favored as better fighters. After capture or fighting, the spiders are stabled in used matchboxes. These matchboxes usually have separate cells to house different spiders. Spiders can be fed with insects although some trainers, especially adults, have their own secret feed formula. Prior to a match, the spider might be intentionally starved to increase its ferocity. LEGAL AND MORAL ISSUES The practice is now generally discouraged since it affects the educational performance of school children.2 They spend too much time hunting and training spiders that lessons and homework are missed. They might also be attracted to Gamble as well. Adults also play the sport but in a way similar to Cockfighting . Derbies are also held and bets could go as high as 30,000 Pesos (about $ 638). The cheaper maintenance cost of raising spiders compared to raising fighting cocks caused some players to switch to spider fighting.3 OTHER FORMS An annual spider fighting contest called ''Kumo Gassen'' is held in Kajiki, Kagoshima , Japan .67 The spiders used in this contest appear to belong to the genus Argiope . REFERENCES SEE ALSO GALLERY |
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