In South Africa, carrier pigeons competed in the legendary million dollar race for years until it fell victim to Corona.
Now there is a new Mecca.
Erlangen
- They are known as the “little man's racehorses”.
Carrier pigeons are fast and have an incredible sense of direction.
The “Million Dollar Pigeon Race” took place in South Africa every year.
Due to the Corona * restrictions, however, the race could no longer take place.
Now the famous Victoria Waterfalls on the Zambezi in Zimbabwe are considered the new Mecca of the carrier pigeon races, where a comparable event is now to take place.
Breeder Reinhard Gebhardt from Erlangen * is also there with his racing pigeon.
Pigeon races in Africa: Breeder from Erlangen won 100,000 euros with his racing pigeon
The race in South Africa has so far been the most important competition for carrier pigeons worldwide, as
reported by
the
dpa
.
In the competitions, which are increasingly criticized by animal rights activists, a selection is made in numerous qualifying races - only the best performing animals then go into the final, which is often more than 540 kilometers long.
What borders on exploitation from the point of view of animal rights activists, in which many pigeons perish, is highly lucrative.
Anyone who was ahead of the game as a breeder was able to score high profits at the subsequent auctions of the animals.
The traditionally well represented Germans were often in the top group at the races in South Africa - like the breeder Gebhardt from Erlangen, who won second place with his racing pigeon "Second Chance" at the time of $ 100,000.
Video: 1.6 million euros for a bird - carrier pigeon achieves a record amount
Pigeon race in Zimbabwe: 1.25 million dollars in prize money - 7,500 pigeons are registered
Carrier pigeons are able to find their home loft apparently from anywhere.
Scientists are still puzzling whether geomagnetism or solar radiation play a role.
Owners breed the animals specifically for performance and prepare them for a high-speed flight career, as does Gebhardt.
The focus this year has shifted to the “Victorian Falls Pigeon Race”, which is taking place for the fifth time in South Africa's neighboring country Zimbabwe. 7500 pigeons from all over the world were registered for the big, fluttering rendezvous, with 1.25 million US dollars in prize money. "This time I'm also represented at the Zambezi," says Gebhardt and emphasizes: "Unfortunately, the Million Dollar Pigeon Race no longer exists - that was always the greatest for me."
The training flights have been taking place over increasingly greater distances for weeks - this time even with GPS tracker rings on the animals' feet.
At the end of July, the grand finale with the winning freestyle takes place.
"This time we have a large line-up from Germany with 848 pigeons," says race founder Geoff Armand.
However, Kuwait and the USA make up most of the animals among the participants from a total of 40 nations.
"The international tourists are returning - especially from the USA and the Middle East," says Armand.
(tkip / dpa) * Merkur.de / bayern is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
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