Korean Air halts rooster transport for Philippine cockfights

The roosters are destined for cockfighting in the Philippines, a major industry generating millions of dollars in turnover, major media reports say. The US has long been an important source of birds for the practice.

Cockfights pit two roosters armed with metal spurs against each other, often ending in less than a minute. Korean Air said it aims to ensure "legal and safe transport of live animals in accordance with applicable laws." The exact start date of the ban and the number of roosters previously transported annually remain unclear.