Gruesome Bloodsports: Dark Side of Human Entertainment

Civilization's barbaric tendencies persist even in modern times, where bloodsports maintain their popularity. From the disturbing act of tossing wildlife into the air to the cruel practice of chasing foxes with hounds, there seems to be a disturbing fascination among some individuals with inflicting harm on animals. This widespread animal cruelty highlights the dark side of human behavior, revealing a disturbing pattern of simpletons seeking thrills through the suffering of innocent creatures.

Among the various manifestations of this brutality, here are ten particularly gruesome instances of animal cruelty, ranked in order of their repulsiveness:

Number 10: Fox Tossing

Fox tossing, as the name implies, involved participants standing in pairs, often couples, facing each other within a closed arena. They held opposite ends of a rope stretched along the ground. A captive fox or other wild animal would be set loose, and the goal was to pull the rope just as the animal ran over it, propelling it into the air. Shockingly, these animals could be launched to heights exceeding 20 feet, sometimes resulting in bone-shattering impacts upon hitting the ground.

Despite the cruelty involved, fox tossing was bizarrely treated as a form of entertainment. Festive gatherings often featured dozens of participants, hundreds of animals, and even participants donning fancy dress. However, those participating in this twisted pastime didn't always escape unscathed. For instance, in 1648, King Augustus II of Poland held a fox tossing event that claimed the lives of 647 foxes, along with 533 hares, 34 badgers, and 21 cats. His obsession with such events demonstrated his detachment from the well-being of his country, as Poland's stature as a European power eroded during his reign. Despite his wishes, his legacy failed to leave behind a robust monarchy for his successor.

Regrettably, it took another century and a half for the practice of fox tossing to finally be banned, bringing an end to this disturbing chapter in human history. The enduring allure of such gruesome activities reminds us of the capacity for cruelty within humanity, even as society strives for progress and enlightenment.

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9. [__] Throwing:

Also known as [] thrashing, block running, and throwing at [], this old British pastime revolved around throwing sticks at [] until they died. Sometimes it was hens, but the target seemed inconsequential. Regardless, the animals were tied to a stake by one leg, a practice many found unsporting even during that time. The official reason for the ban was its cruelty, but aristocrats involved in fox hunting and game shooting likely deemed [] throwing too proletarian. By the late 18th century, the sport had vanished. Numerous stories abound of [] throwers facing retribution, likely due to the inherent unpredictability of projectiles. In 1766, children engaged in [] throwing accidentally struck a passing woman in a churchyard. A 1753 riot in Dublin erupted when soldiers expressed disgust at the sport.

8. Goose Pulling:

Goose pulling, a centuries-old tradition, especially popular on the Iberian Peninsula but prevalent throughout Europe, involved galloping on horseback towards a goose suspended by a rope and attempting to decapitate it. Today, dead or faux geese are used. In 2005, the Basque town of Lekitio transitioned from live to inanimate geese. Their version involves participants, men, and women, leaping from boats towards a goose suspended over the harbor. While mishaps involving participants are scant, the 17th-century Dutch poet Pradero recounted a fatal knife fight during a Goose pulling event. Except for Lekitio, live geese have been banned from use since the 1920s.

7. Human Baiting:

Human baiting entailed brutal combat between a human and an animal, typically a dog. A notorious instance occurred in 1874, pitting a remarkably strong dwarf named Brummy against a bulldog called Physic in Victorian England. Both participants were chained to a wall, allowing them to attack and retreat as necessary. Brummy fought on all fours, mostly unclothed, taunting and provoking the dog. Despite the crowd's favor toward the dog, Brummy emerged victorious. Nevertheless, his life was fraught with challenges and conflicts with the law. Other examples of human baiting led to more severe consequences. In 1877, two intoxicated men were arrested for antagonizing a kennel dog. One man, armed with a knife and wearing only trousers, fought the dog for 20 minutes before the police intervened. Another instance saw a gentleman fighting a bulldog, narrowly escaping disembowelment.

6. Octopus Wrestling:

In the early 1960s, an American spectacle known as the World Octopus Wrestling Championship emerged and swiftly faded in Tacoma, Washington. Divers engaged in this sport, wrangling and wrestling octopuses. The larger the octopus, the more points were scored—three times the weight. The 1963 televised event attracted over a hundred divers and numerous spectators. However, in the following year, a man found himself trapped within a 50-pound octopus, necessitating his son's aid for rescue. It wasn't until 2013 that an individual killing an octopus in Puget Sound faced global condemnation, leading to a ban on hunting.

5. Fox Hunting:

Fox hunting remains a reprehensible sport involving the exhaustion and tearing apart of foxes by hounds, who themselves are subjected to abuse and eventual killing. Horses also suffer injuries and abuse, symbolizing the domination of the wealthy over land and animals. The sport's bureaucracy extends even to trivial matters like dress codes and etiquette. Participants often face harm and legal consequences, with fox hunting bans enforced more earnestly in places like Scotland.

4. Bullfighting:

Bullfighting, one of the most iconic bloodsports, claims the lives of around 180,000 bulls annually. Matadors torment and kill bulls in glittering arenas. Despite the ideal ending being a swift kill, in practice, most matadors miss, prolonging the animal's agony. Indian bullfighting involves cruelty as well, with men taunting and torturing the bulls with sticks, chili powder, and alcohol. Bullfighters often face injuries or death, while even spectators are not spared.

3. Baiting:

Historically, baiting encompassed various animals, with bears being popular subjects during Shakespearean England. Bears were chained and pitted against dogs in arenas. Attempting to monopolize such cruel spectacles, a certain Sanders Duncan vard tried to profit from bear-baiting. However, his venture was plagued with problems, including structural collapse and a bear keeper's death during a bear attack. The incident ruined Duncan's reputation.

2. Cockfighting:

Cockfighting involves the brutal contest between roosters in an enclosed pit, culminating in fights to the death. Despite its cruelty, cockfighting remains popular globally, including in the U.S. Proponents argue that roosters are inherently combative, but in nature, they rarely fight to the death. Humans deliberately breed them for maximum aggression, and the sport has been further embellished with dangerous additions like attaching knives to the roosters' legs for added thrill. This recklessness has led to unfortunate incidents. In India, knife-wielding roosters killed two men in a single day. In the U.S., a major cockfighting operation, featuring knife-equipped roosters, was shut down, resulting in several members being federally charged and jailed for violating animal welfare laws.

1. Alligator Wrestling:

Alligator wrestling, claimed as a traditional way of life by Florida's Seminole people, was actually exploited by outsiders. Whites built a mock Native Village, hiring Seminoles for mere pennies to entertain white audiences in the 1930s and 40s. The practice continues today, with modern performers asserting a respectful and spiritual connection to the sport. However, the reality is that alligators are kept in deplorable conditions. In 2011, a retired alligator wrestler accidentally triggered a live gator to snap its jaws shut around his head during a performance. Although he was saved before a potentially fatal "death roll," he experienced the weight of a Harley Davidson on his skull and the sensation of his skull cracking.