Beetle fighting: Northern Thai tradition (videos)

During rainy season, beetles gathered from forest for boxing match. Smell of girl beetle drives boy beetle to fight. Match decided in 12 rounds.

NORTHERN THAILAND

Beetle fighting: Northern Thai tradition 

In Nan province, the tradition of beetle fighting is still going strong.

In traditional northern Thai style beetle fighting, beetles (rhinocerous beetles or ma-le kwang) are placed on a log to fight each other using their long horns.

In the video below, find out how the villagers get these big bugs with six legs excited enough to fight each other.

(For more info on beetle fighting in Thailand see Thaibugs blog here & read the interesting paper on beetle communication & training beetles to fight here, also see videos showing creative Japanese beetle matches below) .

TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO:

Kwang Beetle Fighting in Nan province (Pua district) is a tradition that has a long history.

After young men in the village finished their work and farming, they usually went into the forest during the rainy season each year to find Kwang beetles, to fight each other.

This activity brings unity to the villagers.

The competition comprises four types of Kwang beetles.

Kwang Som is a big, male beetle.

Kwang San is smaller than Kwang Som but it has long, beautiful horns.

Kwang Sarng is a five-horned beetle.

The fourth is a three-horned beetle.

The beetles used during fights are mostly Kwang Som and Kwang San.

The fight takes place on a fighting stage called a Gorn.

The stage is made from wood with a tripod.

A female beetle is hidden under the fighting stage.

The male fighters will get excited after smelling the female beetle.

The match will be decided in 12 rounds (or Kams).

If neither side could not win after 12 Kams, it's a draw.

Kam is the number of times a beetle uses its horns to attack its opponent.

To help preserve the forest and natural resources, we are campaigning for people to use less chemicals and not to cut down trees.

This will help save Kwang beetles from extinction.

END OF TRANSCRIPT



http://www.bangkokpost.com/vdo/thailand/739548/beetles-brawl

(Video by Jetjaras Na Ranong)

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