Animals in Entertainment
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Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey is a white-headed capuchin monkey known for riding a Border Collie at rodeos across the United States. Animal trainer Tommy Lucia purchased Whiplash as a baby from the widow of an animal enthusiast in Miami, Florida. As Lucia raised the young monkey, he introduced him to balancing on a saddle, then to the family's dogs. Over time, the dogs became used to carrying the capuchin. Whiplash has been riding since age two and travels with Kenny Petet, appearing at rodeos in North America and Europe. Since 2004, he has starred in a series of television advertisements for the fast-food chain Taco John's. He has also appeared on ESPN, Good Morning America, and The Today Show. On January 29, 2009, Whiplash was knighted in St. Paul, Minnesota, by the St. Paul Winter Carnival royalty at Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub near the Xcel Energy Center - Source
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The Camel Wrestling Festival in Selcuk, Turkey
At the beginning of every year, the camel wrestling festival of Selcuk, begins on the Aegean coast of Turkey. It will run to the end of March when one camel is chosen as the winner in a victorious celebration. It is a great honor for the owner of the camel who will spend all year ensuring his camel is in top condition for the wrestling match.
Throughout the event, bets are placed on camels who will wrestle each other to the ground with their long necks. Traditionally done during mating season, a female is often paraded in front of the male participants to ensure they wrestle with determination. During the match, if a camel runs away or is wrestled to the ground he loses. Twenty men surround the camels to separate them in case the match gets too violent or one camel simply does not want to give up.
This tradition is over 2400 years old and every year more and more tourists are joining in the show as they get to learn about this rather unique and odd tradition.
The main region that the tournament starts in is Selcuk and throughout the season, matches are held in different regions of the Aydin province, ending in a final match at the end of March. At each match, depending on the number of people attending there may be extra activities such as a village band or food stalls - Source
Tens of thousands of liquor-fueled fans cheer them on
"The camels, in the season of love, are dangerous," Luis del Marmol Carvajal, a 16th century Spanish chronicler, observed during a voyage across North Africa. "This season continues 40 days, and, when past, they resume their ordinary mildness."
Nonetheless, most of the pageant camels stand obediently awaiting their turn. But if one steps out of line or snaps at an owner, he's soundly rapped on the hoof with a cane. The caning is obviously painful, as the huge animals shudder at the sight of the proffered whacking stick. It’s a reminder that the event is stressful for the animals.
There's no organized opposition to the event, though in the past animal rights activists have complained that the contests are illegal and cruel.
"It is a clear crime to make animals wrestle, but animals are being wrestled under the guise of festivals," Ege Sakin of Turkey's Animal Rights Federation, known as HAYTAP, told the Today's Zaman newspaper last year. "Although it is a crime, municipalities acquire special permission for such events from the district governors' offices under the cover of festivals." - Source
At the beginning of every year, the camel wrestling festival of Selcuk, begins on the Aegean coast of Turkey. It will run to the end of March when one camel is chosen as the winner in a victorious celebration. It is a great honor for the owner of the camel who will spend all year ensuring his camel is in top condition for the wrestling match.
Throughout the event, bets are placed on camels who will wrestle each other to the ground with their long necks. Traditionally done during mating season, a female is often paraded in front of the male participants to ensure they wrestle with determination. During the match, if a camel runs away or is wrestled to the ground he loses. Twenty men surround the camels to separate them in case the match gets too violent or one camel simply does not want to give up.
This tradition is over 2400 years old and every year more and more tourists are joining in the show as they get to learn about this rather unique and odd tradition.
The main region that the tournament starts in is Selcuk and throughout the season, matches are held in different regions of the Aydin province, ending in a final match at the end of March. At each match, depending on the number of people attending there may be extra activities such as a village band or food stalls - Source
Tens of thousands of liquor-fueled fans cheer them on
"The camels, in the season of love, are dangerous," Luis del Marmol Carvajal, a 16th century Spanish chronicler, observed during a voyage across North Africa. "This season continues 40 days, and, when past, they resume their ordinary mildness."
Nonetheless, most of the pageant camels stand obediently awaiting their turn. But if one steps out of line or snaps at an owner, he's soundly rapped on the hoof with a cane. The caning is obviously painful, as the huge animals shudder at the sight of the proffered whacking stick. It’s a reminder that the event is stressful for the animals.
There's no organized opposition to the event, though in the past animal rights activists have complained that the contests are illegal and cruel.
"It is a clear crime to make animals wrestle, but animals are being wrestled under the guise of festivals," Ege Sakin of Turkey's Animal Rights Federation, known as HAYTAP, told the Today's Zaman newspaper last year. "Although it is a crime, municipalities acquire special permission for such events from the district governors' offices under the cover of festivals." - Source
The fiesta Rapa das bestas in Spain dates back to the 15th century and is held every year in the first week of July. It comprises a noble confrontation between man and horse. At the celebration, young people from Sabucedo and the surrounding area (Pontevedra province, Region of Galicia) head for the mountains at dawn. Their aim is to find wild horses living in the area, bring them back to the village and cut their manes. When night falls, they all come together to enjoy food, music and wine.
Each year, the Rapa das bestas festival in Sabucedo attracts more and more visitors on account of the spectacular, noble nature of this battle between man and beast. The young men divide up into groups and head for the mountains in search of horses. When they find them, they surround them and drive them back to the village. Finally, they get them all together and begin cutting their manes. For this, two "aloitadores" (the young men who do the cutting) place themselves at the head of the animal, and one more at the tail. First, one of those at the head tries to mount the horse while the one behind tries to imbalance it. Then, the second "aloitador" at the head tries to do the same, forcing the first one to get off. These are the complicated manoeuvres used to cut the animal's hair in a real body-to-body fight - mostly carried out by drunken tourists - Source
Each year, the Rapa das bestas festival in Sabucedo attracts more and more visitors on account of the spectacular, noble nature of this battle between man and beast. The young men divide up into groups and head for the mountains in search of horses. When they find them, they surround them and drive them back to the village. Finally, they get them all together and begin cutting their manes. For this, two "aloitadores" (the young men who do the cutting) place themselves at the head of the animal, and one more at the tail. First, one of those at the head tries to mount the horse while the one behind tries to imbalance it. Then, the second "aloitador" at the head tries to do the same, forcing the first one to get off. These are the complicated manoeuvres used to cut the animal's hair in a real body-to-body fight - mostly carried out by drunken tourists - Source
France - Bullfighters and bull breeders attended a bullfight held during the Feria de Paques Easter Festivities in Arles, southern France, on March 26, 2016. The Easter Feria marks the start of the French bullfighting season - Source
