Korean Air bans roosters on US-Philippine routes amid cockfighting outcry

Animal rights advocates were crowing on Saturday after Korean Air banned transporting roosters on flights from the United States to the Philippines, which has a huge cockfighting industry.



Filipinos wager tens of millions of dollars daily by some industry estimates as they watch two roosters armed with metal spurs fight to the death in clashes that can end in less than a minute.



The United States is an important source of roosters for these fights, according to activists as well as a local breeder, who told AFP shutting down US imports would have a "huge impact".



The South Korean carrier said in a statement on Saturday that it had "suspended the transportation of roosters of all ages on routes from the United States to the Philippines".