Beetle warriors

Here's an excerpt from a really interesting article on the northern Thai traditions surrounding beetle fighting.Read it and then try the full story.

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Brawling beetles crawl for it all

Story and photos by Thiti Wannamontha

If Sumo wrestlers are the largest and fiercest of human fighters, kwang, or rhinoceros beetles, are the equivalent in the insect world. Their bouts begin with the big black bugs stomping their little feet and maneuvering to intimidate each other before hooking up and kicking off a captivating battle of nature. They are one of the world's strongest animals, capable of lifting up to 850 times their own weight. They are strong fliers and are attracted to lights.

Only the males have horns, which they use as weapons when battling rivals over females. Therefore, fighting comes naturally to them. They are territorial, but kwang fights are not to the death.

For millions of years, kwang have proven to be survivors amid changing times and for centuries these mighty six-legged creatures have earned a special place in the hearts and minds of the people in northern Thailand.

In Nan's Pua district, locals take kwang fighting so seriously that they organise the Kwang festival in September every year.

Events get under way about 8pm. Within an hour the place is packed with anxious spectators and trainers. The bugs squeak, excited by the neon lights.

The battlefield is a small one metre-long log. In a chamber in the log is what's fuelling the fight – the winner's prize, a female kwang.

As soon as the crawling gladiators are placed on opposite ends of the log, they go for each other full throttle. Neither wastes time in first sizing up his opponent. They lock horns and grapple for leverage.

Trainers drum the log with thin sticks fastened with steel clips to motivate their fighters.

Against this drumming, the two struggle before one of the kwang overcomes his opponent, gripping him and lifting him up, all six legs wagging helplessly in the air. The attacker advances and attempts to hurl his foe from the log.

The two struggle before one of the kwang overcomes his opponent, gripping him and lifting him up, all six legs wagging helplessly in the air.

The hall goes silent. No one blinks. But it's over – the vanquished kwang teeters off the log and a winner is declared in what turns out to be the most lopsided battle of the night. The victorious beetle is introduced to his female prize.

You can read the full story here: http://bit.ly/qrj4y5

brawling – fighting in a rough, noisy, uncontrolled way situation ทะเลาะกัน,วิวาท
crawl – to move along close to the ground on your hands คลาน
wrestler – a person who takes part in the sport of wrestling นักมวยปล้ำ
fierce – very strong and threatening รุนแรง, ดุเดือด
rhinoceros – a very large thick-skinned animal from Africa or Asia, which has one or two horns on its nose แรด
equivalent – the same as something else   เท่าเทียมกันกับ
bout – a boxing or wrestling match การแข่งขัน
stomp – to walk, dance, or move with heavy steps กระทืบ, เหยียบ
maneuver (manoeuvre)– to move or turn skilfully or carefully
intimidate – to attempt to frighten someone in order to get them to do something ทำให้กลัว, ข่มขู่
captivate – to hold the attention of someone by being extremely interesting, exciting, pleasant or attractive จับใจ,ประทับใจ
capable – able to do something; very good at something มีความสามารถ
male – belonging to the sex that does not give birth to babies; connected with this sex  ตัวผู้, เพศผู้, ผู้ชาย
rival – a person (or insect in this case) you are competing against or opposing คู่แข่ง
come naturally to – not having to be learned มาตามธรรมชาติ
territorial (of an animal, bird, etc.) guarding and defending an area of land that they believe to be their own  แสดงความเป็นเจ้าของที่หรืออาณาเขต
survivor – someone who still exists after an event that could have killed or destroyed them ผู้รอดชีวิต
century – a period of one hundred years ศตวรรษ
spectator – a person who watches an activity, especially a sports event, without taking part ผู้เข้าชม
trainer – a person who teaches people or animals to perform a particular job or skill well, or to do a particular sport ครูฝึก,  ผู้ฝึก
squeak – to make a short high sound that is not very loud  ร้องจี๊ดๆ อย่างหนู
log – a thick piece of tree trunk or branch, especially one cut for burning on a fire โค่นต้นไม้
chamber – a space in something (in a body, in a plant, a machine, etc,  which is separated from the rest ช่อง
fuel – to cause something, usually bad, to happen; to increase something; to make something stronger ก่อให้เกิด, ทำให้รุนแรงขึ้น
gladiator – (in ancient Rome) a man trained to fight other men or animals in order to entertain the public นักต่อสู้กับคนหรือสัตว์ในสมัยโรมัน
full throttle – full power เต็มที่, ตำแหน่งเร่งเต็มที่ (ยานยนต์)
size up – to form a judgement or an opinion about somebody/something
opponent – rival; someone who is competing against you ฝ่ายตรงข้าม
grapple – to take a firm hold of somebody/something and struggle with them ปลุกปล้ำ, ต่อสู้
leverage – the power to move things  แรงที่ได้เพิ่มขึ้นจากการงัด
fasten – to fix or place something in a particular position, so that it will not move มัด, รัด
motivate – to cause to (want to) do something ทำให้มีแรงจูงใจ
struggle – to try hard to do something that you find very difficult พยายาม
overcome – to defeat somebody เอาชนะ
grip – to hold something tightly  เกาะ, ยึด, จับ
wag – to move something from side to side, e.g., the tail of a dog แกว่งไปมา, กระดิกไปมา
advance – to move forward เคลื่อนไปข้างหน้า
foe – an enemy or opponent ศัตรู
hurl – to throw something using a lot of force  เขวี้ยง ขว้างปา
silent – very quiet; without sound เงียบ
blink – to close and then open your eyes quickly once or several times, กะพริบตา
vanquished – defeated พ่ายแพ้
teeter – to stand or move in an unsteady way so that you look as if you are going to fall   เดินโซเซ
lopsided – not equal ไม่สมดุล