Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Tiago Rogero in Cartagena; photographs by Ever Mercado

As Colombia moves to outlaw cockfighting, a bloody night unfolds in Cartagena

man holds rooster
One of the evening’s judges asks the people in the VIP area if they will place bets on the rooster he is holding in the Santa María cockfighting arena 8 October 2025. Photograph: Ever Mercado/The Guardian

On the outskirts of Cartagena – far from the brightly coloured facades of the old city and the 500-year-old fortress walls overlooking the Caribbean – a crowd of about 300 people erupted into a roar. Given Colombians’ passion for football, it could have been the celebration of a goal.

But the cheers followed the bloody climax of bout in a cockfighting ring whose white padded walls were now splattered with blood.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.