Factors Influencing Muslim Community of the Tree Southern Provinces of Thailand Participation in the Zebra Dove Bird Sound Competition and Their Understanding of the Legal Status

Abstract

Traditional sports competitions based on the art of the bird's sound are popular among the Muslim community in the three southern provinces of Thailand. This can be seen, when the activity is contested almost every day except Friday in most places and districts. The confusion of the Southern Thai community over the legal status makes this bird contest still active to this day. This paper discusses the factors influencing Muslim Community of the three Southern Provinces of Thailand participation in the zebra dove bird sound Competition and their understanding of the legal status. The paper uses a qualitative approach through the method of interviews with 9 competition participants and participatory observations at the competition location.  The study found that personal interest, socio economic factors, as well as bird promotion and prizes are motivating factors for the community participation in the bird competition. The study also found that most of the participants have different views on the legal status of bird competitions such as permissible, not good in some aspects, do not know the legal status and involve elements of gambling as the payment of fees and prizes are taken from source of the fees.