Editorial photo #12969891 Human Interest
The Tradition Of Sheep Fighting Contest In West Java
Two sheep fight each other during the sheep fighting contest in the arena in Ranca Bango village, Garut Regency, West Java Province, on November 9, 2025. The art of sheep agility is a culture of the Garut people believed to have existed since around 1815, during the Pajajaran kingdom, and is still preserved to this day. This sheep fighting contest is regulated to only 20 headbutt matches to avoid fatal injuries or even death to the participating sheep. The winner is judged based on the sheep's health, stance, fighting technique, endurance, and courage. This sheep agility art tradition, apart from competing for attractive prizes such as refrigerators, washing machines, money, and motorbikes, is also a form of preserving tradition as well as a space to strengthen brotherhood between communities. (Photo by Aditya Irawan/NurPhoto)
