Not far from Chiang Mai, in the province of Nan, tensions are brewing among some of the strongest animals in the world as they prepare to face off in epic battles. I am referring, of course, to the kwang or rhinoceros beetles.

These small creatures can lift up to 850 times their own weight! Naturally territorial, males will use their horns (females do not have these horns) to claim their rightful space.

The beetles have traditionally provided villagers in Northern Thailand with some entertainment during the rainy season. Villagers in the Pua district of Nan have continued this tradition and hold an annual festival in September honoring the beetles with their duels as the central event.

“Beetle fighting is a part of our unique heritage that we want to preserve. I don’t believe there is anywhere else in the world where people catch them and get them ready for competition like we do,” says Nan Mom, the vice-president of Nan’s Kwang Fighting Club, the festival’s organiser.

Villagers put in a lot of time and energy to make it an exciting event, with some people catching and training beetles for up to a month ahead of the fights. Kids find it exciting, adults enjoy the festivities and are able to capitalize on a unique festival. When it’s all said and done, a good time has been had by all and both the winning and losing male beetles as well as the female beetles are set free to mate for the season.

Check out the story in it’s entirety in the Bangkok Post.

Please note, all photos were taken from the Bangkok Post website: http://www.bangkokpost.com/feature/environment/259263/brawling-beetles-crawl-for-it-all