Despite being banned in Costa Rica for over a century, the brutal practice of cockfighting continues to thrive in secrecy, fueling a disturbing trade that inadvertently harms the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Cockfighters, aiming to make their birds more lethal, attach razor-sharp blades, known as “gaffs” or “cockspurs,” to the roosters’ legs—often crafted from the shells of hawksbill turtles. This illegal trade has emerged as an unexpected and devastating threat to the species, whose shells have long been prized for making jewelry, ornaments, and, now, deadly implements for cockfighting.
A Long History of Exploitation
Hawksbill turtles have been targeted for their distinctive black-and-brown shells since ancient times, prized in Roman and Chinese cultures for their beauty and utility. Historically hunted for both their meat and shells, hawksbills continue to face the threat of poaching, even though they are protected under international conservation agreements.
Maike Heidemeyer, a marine biologist based in Costa Rica and a long-time advocate for sea turtle conservation, first encountered the use of hawksbill shells in cockfighting spurs nearly two decades ago. After relocating from Germany, Heidemeyer observed the illegal sale of hawksbill shell products, including cockfighting spurs, openly displayed at holiday markets. Though the sale of such items has become less visible in recent years, demand for them remains strong.
“There are groups that openly defend their right to engage in cockfighting, even in Costa Rica,” says Heidemeyer. “Though illegal, they continue to operate covertly.”
In addition to the spurs, the hawksbill’s beak-like mouth is also sought after for use in cockfighting, often sold along the Costa Rican-Panamanian border, according to reports from Spanish publication El País. Cockfighters reportedly affix these beak pieces to the top of their roosters’ beaks, further contributing to the exploitation of the endangered species.
Seizures and Smuggling
Costa Rican authorities have intensified efforts to curb the illegal trade of hawksbill products. In May 2024, a crackdown near the Nicaraguan border led to the seizure of 29 hawksbill spurs, while a 2019 operation in Guanacaste province resulted in the confiscation of 98 smuggled spurs. However, experts like Heidemeyer suggest that these confiscations represent only a small fraction of the actual trade.
Despite ongoing enforcement efforts, many challenges persist. “People aren’t necessarily aware that the spurs they’re seeing are made from turtle shells,” Heidemeyer explains, noting that hawksbill shell can often be mistaken for plastic. A simple test—burning the product—can reveal its origin, as turtle shell produces a distinctive odor similar to burning human hair due to its keratin content.
Didiher Chacón, founder of the Latin American Sea Turtles Association (LAST), trains Costa Rican authorities to identify hawksbill products and conducts undercover operations to build criminal cases against smugglers. His team also monitors online platforms for the sale of such products and reports them to authorities for removal.
However, Chacón acknowledges the systemic challenges that conservationists face, particularly with frequent turnover among law enforcement officers, which hampers efforts to maintain consistent training on identifying hawksbill shells.
“Our customs system is designed to target guns and drugs, not wildlife products,” says Chacón. “We need more targeted training for postal and customs officers.”
The Broader Regional Trade
The illegal trade in hawksbill products extends beyond Costa Rica. Neighboring Nicaragua, for example, is a major hotspot for the trade, and although hawksbills are protected under international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), poaching continues unabated.
Chacón, with over 30 years of experience in sea turtle conservation, points to Nicaragua’s lack of comprehensive protection measures for hawksbills. While progress has been made in countries like Colombia and the Dominican Republic, the situation remains dire in several regions.
Efforts to curb the trade have been somewhat more successful in Panama, where authorities seized 199 hawksbill spurs in 2022 during raids on two businesses in Chiriquí province. U.S. marine turtle expert Jeffrey Seminoff assisted local authorities in identifying the origin of a batch of 77 cockfighting spurs, revealing that most originated from Panama’s Atlantic-Caribbean region.
Seminoff’s analysis, which used stable isotope testing to trace the spurs’ origin, provides irrefutable evidence of the extensive poaching in the Caribbean, highlighting the need for targeted conservation efforts in this area.
Educational and Behavioral Shifts
In Costa Rica, LAST is working to address the issue at its root by educating local communities, especially in coastal areas, about the importance of protecting sea turtles. The organization runs school programs to teach children about conservation, hoping to foster a new generation that values and protects marine life.
Chacón stresses the importance of consumer awareness in the fight against poaching. Tourists, in particular, must be educated about the harmful impact of purchasing hawksbill products, such as jewelry or ornaments, which are often sold in tourist markets or online.
“The consumer behavior of tourists is crucial,” says Chacón. “They must be educated not to buy turtle products or consume turtle meat or eggs, which are often marketed as aphrodisiacs in places like the Dominican Republic and Cuba.”
Beyond consumer awareness, Heidemeyer emphasizes the need for broader cultural change. While Costa Rica’s ban on cockfighting was upheld by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2017, there is still uncertainty about whether this will effectively curb the practice. Cockfighting remains legal in countries like Colombia and Panama, where attitudes toward animal welfare continue to clash with conservation efforts.
“We won’t see real change until attitudes toward animal welfare shift,” Heidemeyer concludes.
Conclusion
The illegal cockfighting trade, fueled by the demand for hawksbill turtle shells, remains a significant threat to the survival of this already critically endangered species. Despite ongoing enforcement and educational efforts, the persistence of poaching and cockfighting in the region underscores the need for continued international collaboration, stricter enforcement, and a long-term shift in public attitudes toward both animal welfare and conservation. Until these challenges are addressed, hawksbill turtles will remain at risk, caught in the crossfire of an illegal trade that spans across borders and cultures.
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