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Korean Air has announced that it will cease the transport of fighting cocks to the Philippines. This decision follows a series of investigations conducted by Animal Wellness Action, the Center for a Humane Economy, and the Dallas Morning News. The investigations uncovered illegal activities related to the smuggling of fighting birds, which led to the introduction of a bill by U.S. Representative Troy Nehls aimed at banning the international transport of fighting cocks.
The new policy from Korean Air aims to deprive criminal networks that breed fighting cocks in the U.S. of their primary means of transport. Reports indicate that the Philippines imports up to 40,000 fighting cocks from the U.S. annually, with a single cock costing up to $2,000. In 2022, the Philippine government reported bets exceeding $13 billion on E-Sabong, or online cockfighting.
Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, commented on the decision: “Airlines should not serve as a means of transport for fighting cocks and the associated criminal networks. This policy stops up to $80 million in illegal revenue for fighting cocks sold to other fighters in the Philippines.” Pacelle emphasized that Korean Air had unknowingly acted as a carrier for fighting cocks and praised the company for its willingness to end the illegal trade.
Legislation to combat smuggling
Rep. Troy Nehls, chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee, introduced the “No Flight, No Fight Act” (H.R. 7371) in February to prohibit the transport of fighting cocks by commercial airlines. Pacelle noted that the introduction of Nehls‘ bill is directly related to Korean Air’s announcement. Nehls has also proposed an amendment to another bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act (H.R. 7567), which aims for the same goal. This amendment will be reviewed by the House Rules Committee next week.
In the fall of 2025, investigators from the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action tracked the illegal trade of fighting birds from farms in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas to brokers, including North Texas Livestock Shipping (NTLS) in Dallas. These brokers transported the birds with Korean Air to Manila Airport via Incheon Airport in Korea. The investigations revealed that tens of thousands of birds are shipped annually from the U.S. to the Philippines and Mexico.
Implications for the animal welfare movement
The organizations also had undercover investigators at the World Slasher Cup (WSC) in Manila, an event featuring 800 animal fights attended by thousands of spectators. Kevin Chambers, lead investigator at Animal Wellness Action, reported that American fighting cock breeders participated in these fights and illegally transported cocks. “No fight was called off until at least one bird was killed,” said Chambers.
U.S. airlines do not accept live birds for transport to the Philippines, while Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, and Cathay Pacific apparently do. Filipino fighting cock breeders reported that Korean Air was their preferred transport source for shipments from the U.S.
Pacelle pointed out that American fighting cock breeders have become some of the largest global suppliers of fighting birds, thereby supporting animal cruelty, illegal gambling, and money laundering. A USDA report estimated a decade ago that there are up to 24 million fighting cocks in the U.S.
Colonel Tom Pool (ret.), former veterinarian for the territory of Guam, stated that the fighting cock industry in the Philippines and Vietnam is deeply rooted and barbaric. “It is an organized crime network that involves murder, money laundering, and gambling,” said Pool. He emphasized that Korean Air’s announcement marks the beginning of the dismantling of this organized animal trade.
Pool added that the current H5N1 pandemic originated from the trade of fighting cocks from Thailand. “American fighting cock breeders cannot transport these birds overland or by cargo ships. Therefore, ending the air transport of these birds is one of the most effective ways to disrupt this trade,” he explained.
