An ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) man pulls a live chicken during a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower” in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. A village in southwest China staged a traditional wedding ritual that pits ancient traditions against modern views on animal welfare in a fast changing country. The ceremony held in the ethnic Kam minority village of Gantuan in Guizhou province is based on a tradition dating back some 500 years that was revived and modified in the 1990s for villagers and tourists. The event, known locally as “steal the chicken at the drum tower”, involves young men competing to be the first to tear apart live birds carried on poles by new brides into the village centre. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





Ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) women get ready for a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower” in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. The ceremony held in the ethnic Kam minority village of Gantuan in Guizhou province is based on a tradition dating back some 500 years that was revived and modified in the 1990s for villagers and tourists. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





The head of a chicken is seen on the ground during a traditional wedding ritual. It is rooted in the past when a bride was expected to marry a cousin, according to village chief Huang Xuexian. If she wished to marry outside the family, her suitor and cousin would compete to be the first to bite off the head of a tethered chicken or duck and “win” the bride. This ritual was abandoned long ago as attitudes on marriage changed, said Huang. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





An ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) man pulls the head of a live chicken during a traditional wedding ritual. “China does not have a comprehensive law for ensuring the wellbeing of all animals or an anti-cruelty law for protecting animals”, said Peter Li, China policy advisor for Humane Society International. He blamed “business interests involved in animal exploitation such as bear farming”. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





An ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) man touches the face of his bride during a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower”. “It was later that people realised this was not the correct way to marry. Now we have the freedom to marry whom we want”, he said. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





A live chicken and a duck are tied on poles during a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower” in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





Ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) women and men take part in a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower”. The event involves young men competing to be the first to tear apart live birds carried on poles by new brides into the village centre. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





Ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) women walk with a child as they carry poles with live chicken and ducks during a traditional wedding ritual. In the 1990s the village introduced a modified version of the ceremony that still involves young men tearing the live birds from the poles carried by the brides. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





An ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) bride has her face covered in chicken blood during a traditional wedding ritual in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





An ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) man throws a duck during a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower”. Pet ownership and better education on animal welfare have fuelled greater public sympathy for animal rights, activists say, but legal protection proposed in 2009 has not been implemented. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





Ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) men stand after celebrating a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower” in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





Ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) women get ready for a traditional wedding ritual known as the “steal the chicken at the drum tower” in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





An ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) boy pulls the head of a live duck during a traditional wedding ritual “steal the chicken at the drum tower” in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)





Ethnic “Kam” (also known as Dong) women take a selfie before a traditional wedding ritual “steal the chicken at the drum tower” in a minority Dong village in southwestern Chinese city of Congjiang, Guizhou province, China January 29, 2017. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)