Rhinocerous beetles take part in training sessions - getting ready for an annual fighting tournament.<br /><br />The shiny black creatures were beings showed off by their owner in Phayao, northern Thailand, last Sunday (September 15). <br /><br />The annual rhinoceros beetle fighting tournament will take place at the weekend and local enthusiasts are keen to see their prize beetles claim victory.<br /><br />Watcharapong Dechata, 40, is preparing for the event. He said: "I have participated in the contest since I was a boy. I'm proud that the competition is still thriving.<br /><br />"Besides bringing locals people together, the contest is also a traditional activity that should be preserved as it teaches us how to live alongside small insects." <br /><br />Catching and raising the beetles is a subculture among people in northern Thailand. They will hold fighting competitions during this period each year.<br /><br />The competitions include fights, beauty contests and awards for the strangest beetles.<br /><br />Beetle lovers usually put their insects on a sugar cane stem and let them suck up the syrup from it is believed to give the beetle strength.<br /><br />The battle avenue is a long piece of wood where the creatures go head-to-head.<br /><br />Each beetle can sell for up to 2,000 baht (52 GBP).
