Hyena-baiting

Hyena-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of hyenas. The striped hyena has historically been the most frequently used species. Hyenas can be challenging opponents for dogs, as their jaws are exceedingly powerful. A single bite from a hyena lasting a few seconds without holding on is sufficient to kill a large dog. ["Sketches of Indian Field Sports: With Observations on the Animals; Also an Account of Some of the Customs of the Inhabitants; with a Description of the Art of Catching Serpents, as Practised by the Conjoors and Their Method of Curing Themselves when Bitten: with Remarks on Hydrophobia and Rabid Animals" by Daniel Johnson, published by R. Jennings, 1827]

The Qalandar and the Thori in southern Punjab, Kandahar and Quetta, catch striped hyenas in order to pit them against dogs. The hyenas are pitted against specially trained dogs, and are restrained with ropes in order to pull them away from the dogs if necessary.cite web | url = http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/afs/pdf/a1246.pdf | title = The Magicality of the Hyena: Beliefs and Practices in West and South Asia | publisher = Asian Folklore Studies, Volume 57, 1998: 331–344 | accessdate = 23 | month = June | year = 2008]

In Baluchistan, captured hyenas sometimes had bridles placed in their mouths in order to prevent them from injuring the dogs. This was done in order to train the dogs into not fearing the animal.

It is known that a Dogue de Bordeaux bitch named Megre was pitted against hyenas in 1895, though the exact species was not identified.cite web | url = http://www.bulldoginformation.com/evolution-of-the-bulldog.html | title = The Dogue de Bordeaux | publisher = The Bulldog Information Library | accessdate = 03 | month = August | year = 2008]

References