India's Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Bird and Buffalo Fights Amid Controversy

New State Laws Aim to Protect Animals, but Activists Argue Practices are Cruel and Threaten Wildlife

India's Supreme Court has lifted a nine-year ban on bird and buffalo fights, a traditional part of the Magh Bihu harvest festival in Assam, despite opposition from wildlife activists.
New state laws promise to make the contests safe for the animals, requiring organizers to provide food and water to the birds at the site of the fight, and ensuring that the birds are set free in good health after the game.
Animal rights activists argue that the fights are a form of animal cruelty, with some animals getting killed or injured, and that they encourage people to catch birds in the wild, potentially threatening species that are declining or disappearing.
Buffalo fights, a more recent tradition in Assam, draw even larger crowds, with up to 10,000 people gathering in stadiums. Veterinary teams are on hand to respond to any medical emergencies, and trainers are banned from giving the buffaloes performance-enhancing drugs.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has urged the state government to urgently stop the fights, arguing that they violate the country's 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.