In rural Haiti, gambling extends beyond slot machines and poker tables.
The Haitian tradition of fighting bulls is similar to a cock or dog fight, but on a larger scale, as the animals are bigger and the stakes higher. More than a century old, bull fighting is a casual pastime for some men, but for many it is a means to pay for a car, food, or their children’s schooling.
Bull owners and townspeople place bets on the animals and, when the owners are satisfied with the wagers, the two bulls are released to charge into the ring. The fight is over when a bull retreats.
The fights are often gruesome. The crowds get rowdy and the men grind their bulls’ horns to sharp points to gore the other animals. But for people living on less than two dollars a day, the chance for a big payday is appealing, and so the tradition continues.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.