Illegal Cockfighting Won't Fly with Airlines |
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May 14, 2007
By Ariana Huemer
On the heels of a Congressional crackdown on illegal animal fighting, Philippine Airlines and Korean Air Lines announced they will cease shipment of fighting roosters to the Philippines from the United States. The two airlines shipped more than 4,000 birds to the Philippines for U.S. gamefowl breeders every year.
On May 7, Philippine Airlines alerted The HSUS that it was joining Korean Air Lines in refusing to transport birds for the U.S. cockfighting industry. The announcements came in response to an HSUS investigation, which documented both airlines unwittingly shipping fighting birds out of the United States to the Philippines by the thousands (a violation of federal law).
Gamefowl breeders in the United States do brisk business with cockfighters in countries like Guam and the Philippines, where cockfighting is legal and pervasive. Philippine Airlines and Korean Air Lines were the only carriers that served the Philippines for this illegal industry. In October 2005, after presented with similar evidence, Continental Airlines announced it would stop shipment of gamefowl to Guam. With the recent announcements from the two airlines, cockfghters are out of options.
Cockfighters are now appealing to Pacific Air Cargo to transport birds to the American territory. The HSUS is pressing on the airline to follow Continental's lead.
The airlines' recent announcement is further good news after the passage of the federal Animal Fighting Enforcement Act, which President Bush signed this month. The new law makes it a felony to export animals for the purpose of fighting, including to places like the Philippines and Guam where the inhumane practice is legal.
The get-tough on cruelty message seems to be enough to make any reputable company stop dead in its tracks. Hopefully, it will have the same effect on illegal cockfighters.
Related Links
Game Birds Won't Fly on Continental Airlines
Cockfighting and the Spread of Bird Flu
The President Signs Landmark Animal Fighting Legislation
Louisiana Considers Immediate Ban on Cockfighting
