Peru's cockfighters may impact survival of endangered largetooth sawfish

The possible extinction of the endangered large-toothed sawfish could be influenced by Peruvian cockfighters

The large-toothed sawfish is a type of ray with a shark-like body known versus distinctive chainsaw-shaped snout

This species can reach a maximum of 23 feet long, and it was once common along Peru's northern coast

But in recent years, large-toothish populations have dwindled, and they are now considered critically endangered and extremely rare, facing threats from habitat destruction, accidental capture

and the illegal trade of its body parts. Poachers mostly target the teeth on the animals elongated snout

which for decades have been highly valued in Peruvian cockfighting arenas, where they are polished into spurs worn by roosters

While cockfighting is illegal in the United States, the sport is not only permitted in Peru, but regarded as an important cultural practice

Cockfighters in the country long viewed large-to-sawfish spurs as a popular choice to equip their birds with due to the strength and sharpness they offer

Between 2016 and 2017 researchers surveyed 49 Peruvian cockfighters more than half of whom said they had purchased large two sawfish spurs at least once in preceding five years However growing awareness of the species endangered status has sparked concern among conservationists and even within parts of the cockfighting community itself

Amid calls from environmental groups, Peru's Ministry of Production banned the capture, transport, and sale

of large-toose sawfish and their parts in 2020. About two decades prior

some Peruvian cockfighting leagues already banned the use of animal-based spurs, citing efforts to protect both the large-toe sawfish

and roosters within the sport, which sustain less serious injuries from artificially made spurs

But the enforcement of these bans remains a challenge. The illegal sale of large two sawfish

spurs still continues, with products advertised on online marketplaces and local Peruvian fishermen

saying there is still a demand for teeth. Advocates are trying to combat this by raising

awareness among those in Peru's cockfighting industry about this species being on the brink of

extinction, giving presentations at cockfighting conventions and posting flyers around arenas. Marine conservationists say, despite other factors like habitat loss, contributing more to the decline

of the large-toes sawfish. Because these animals are now so rare, the impacts of cockfighting

must be addressed. For straight-airo news, I'm Jack Almer