LAMPANG – Locals packed the arena with cheers that shook the ground at a Rhinoceros Beetle fight event that boosted the local economy and preserved a traditional sport.
Mayor Phaitoon Pho Thong of Mueang Khelang Nakhon Municipality backed the off-season rhinoceros beetle fights. Rhinoceros Beetle Fight fans from near and far hauled in their prized breed bugs.
Thai breeds and foreign ones squared off. More than 300 Rhinoceros beetles joined the Papa Thander tournament at Suan Ba Paow Pa M in Ban Tok Hua Chang, Tambon Phra Bat, Mueang Lampang District.
The mayor and his team provided trophies and cash prizes. They aimed to keep the local economy humming. Competitions are split into classes like 26/63, 26.5/64, 28/68, and 29/73.
Winners took home 1,600 baht, second place got 800 baht, and third place also got 800 baht, plus trophies. Other classes included 27/66, 28/70, and OPEN. Top prizes there reached 5,040 baht, with 1,260 baht for second and third, along with trophies.
Thanadet Thammasri Jai, known as Big Bom, runs Big Bom Farm in Tambon Pong San Thong, Mueang Lampang. At 35 years old, he shared details. The beetle preservation association organized it.
Breeders brought two-horned rhinoceros beetles, foreign types like kabuto, white elephants, Indonesian, Malaysian, and Thai varieties. Since it’s off-season, all came from farms. In peak season, wild ones make up about 10%. But farms dominate to keep the beetle business alive year-round.
Big Bom started breeding 11 years ago. He keeps hundreds for sale now. Indonesian Sumatra beetles fetch top prices, from 500 to over 10,000 baht. Value rises with age, wins, and fight skills.
These Rhinoceros Beetles grow big with long, sharp horns. They eat honey, sugarcane juice, bran, and more. Next up, Indonesian Java types cost hundreds to thousands. One-month-olds can already compete.
Breeding goes beyond selling fighters. Farmers trade breeding pairs, too. That adds economic value. Sugarcane demand stays high; Big Bom grows it on four rai but still falls short. Cow dung and sawdust ferment into feed. Beetle droppings make great fertilizer for plants.
Fights follow standard rules. Each bout lasts five minutes. No winner? They add three more. The first solid grip claims victory. Big fields like 400 to 500 beetles stretch events over two days.
Mayor Phaitoon compared it to cockfighting, another hometown pastime. This tournament saves Lampang’s beetle-fighting heritage. Fans traveled from other provinces. It sparks spending and tourism. During the rainy season, when wild beetles emerge, crowds swell. Events always run for at least two days with so many entrants.
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