Cockfighting is prohibited in France but tolerated in some regions. They are the subject of controversy. In Reunion Island, it is a strongly present tradition, although it is discreet. The location of gallodromes is exchanged by word of mouth, and only a public of regulars goes there. Gallodromes communicate on dedicated Facebook pages, between two announcements of rooster exchange. Regularly, "cups", or tournaments, are organised. The winner gets a goat, a pig, or simply money. This means that the participants look after their roosters. The best roosters, generally imported from Asia, can be negotiated for sums exceeding a thousand euros. Bets are placed during the fights, which can last for more than an hour. The roosters wear each other down by pecking and scratching. The fight is very violent and sometimes results in the death of one of the roosters. The fallen but surviving rooster has a good chance of ending up in the pot. This violence contrasts with the attachment that the owners show to the roosters that they have raised and trained to fight.
The following series of images is part of a long-term project, still in progress.
