Spider fighting

Female spiders will kill a rival if the loser does not quickly flee or receive the aid of a human handler.

In Malaysia, they are known as "fighting spiders" in English, dòu bào hǔ (Chinese: 鬥豹虎) in Mandarin and Cantonese, and memerangi labah-labah in Malay.

Spider fighting or spider wrestling[2] (Hiligaynon: pahibag sang damang; Cebuano: paaway kaka or sabong sa kaka; Mindanao Cebuano: sabong sa damang) is a popular blood sport among rural Filipino children, especially in the Bisaya region.

The cells are normally made from discarded cardboard or a single blade of coconut leaf bent several times inside the matchbox.

Some trainers assemble a "langsaranan" where the spider is released to a plant enclosed by a net or a plastic bottle with tiny holes.

Fights to the death will end with one spider being bitten, paralyzed, and swiftly wrapped in silk.

[4][5] Spider derbies called "kaka"[6] are held in an arena made of two poles connected by a tight string.

The Bacolod police provincial director issued an order warning residents of participating in a form of illegal gambling.

[10] An annual spider fighting contest called Kumo Gassen is held in Kajiki, Kagoshima, Japan.

Capturing, admiring, nurturing, and staging fights among these spiders is a popular activity among many young people.

In the United States, spider-fighting is also prevalent in prisons in Florida, where inmates catch them and keep them in boxes as pets.