Macaques huddle together for warmth at a hot spring in Nagano, Japan in the last decade of December 2023. Known as snow monkeys, the animals soak in the 40°C water every day during cold weather, spending their bathtime grooming, snoozing and playing on visitors’ camera tripods. (Photo by David Lazar/Animal News Agency)

An animal enthusiast touches a Bearded Dragon displayed for sale as exotic pet at Thailand Reptile and Exotic Expo in Bangkok, Thailand, 02 August 2024. The Thailand Reptile and Exotic Expo is a trade showcase exhibiting hundreds of reptiles and exotic animals from breeders to sell as exotic pets for enthusiasts. (Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/EPA)

Volunteers care for burned sheeps in a field hospital established by HAYTAP (The Federation of the Animals Rights in Turkey) for animals after a wildfire at the Manavgat district of Antalya, Turkey, 09 August 2021. It is not known how many wild animals living in the forest died in the fires, but about 33,000 farm animals perished. About 30 veterinarians and hundreds of volunteers work around the clock at the field hospital. Sheep, covered in mosquito nets to protect their wounds from flies, lay there in the shade trying to recover, and various animals such as cats, dogs, owls, and cows have been treated or are still being treated there. (Photo by Erdem Sahin/EPA/EFE)

A worker caresses a donkey at the Retired Animals Farm in Turkey's Bursa on October 01, 2020. Animal Rights Federation in Turkey (HAYTAP) established a “Retired Animals Farm” in Bursa for animals that were tortured, thrown out by their owners, injured and in need of assistance for similar reasons. Built in the neighborhood of Baskoy in Nilufer district after long term efforts, the farm provides a home to animals of many species, such as horse, donkey, cow, sheep, chicken from all around Turkey. The farm project receives support from various institutions and organizations. (Photo by Sergen Sezgin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Chinese models with animal-themed body paintings pose during a campaign for animal protection at Sanya Color Zoo in Sanya city, south China's Hainan province, 10 January 2016. The girls wearing strapless bras and short pants only were colored with animal-themed paintings such as zebra, cheetah, tiger and peacock. They paraded throughout the newly-opened Sanya Color Zoo and met visitors to take pictures, causing envies from netizens living in north China who are suffering chills. (Photo by Imaginechina/Splash News)

It’s a tradition that dates back hundreds of years, where two stallions fight over a female to ring the Chinese new year. And when it’s the Year of the Horse, the fights are considered to be even more significant. They’re held in small villages across southern China and have been condemned by animal rights groups, including Hong-Kong based Animals Asia. But those who participate in the events defend the fights and insist they take care of the animals.

An orangutan named “Pacquiao” dressed in a Santa Claus costume reacts as he joins an “Animal Christmas Party” at the Malabon zoo in suburban Malabon, north of Manila, Philippines Monday, December 21, 2015. The Malabon Zoo is one of the largest private collections of exotic and endemic animals in the Philippines. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A Goat is displayed on a stage for animal breeders and collectors during a rare levant goat auction and exhibition on April, 27, 2018, in Amman, Jordan. Animal breeders participants came from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Palestine to bid on rare goats at the Jrdanian breeder Yahya Abu Jaber near the Jordanian capital. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)