Pigeon racing might seem like a sport from a forgotten age, but it is something that happens in Britain today, and brings much enjoyment to those who participate. This environmental sport is when pigeons are reared and then taken to a specific spot to be released. They are then timed to see how long it takes them to fly back to their home (which pigeons will naturally do).
The world of pigeon racing has been rocked, however, by accusations that the sport is cruel, with animal rights group PETA condemning the sport as fundamentally cruel.
They cite three different ethical issues with the sport of pigeon racing, claiming that the wellness and wellbeing of the birds is prioritised behind the enjoyment of the sport.
A secret video by PETA shows a practice amongst pigeon racers which is known as ‘genetic winnowing’, where they select the birds in their loft that fly the slowest and then snap their necks, before tossing them in the bin. This is in a bid to eliminate the ‘slow flying’ genes from their flock.
The pigeon fanciers association deny these charges, saying that one or two individuals amongst 43,000 registered participants cannot be held as an example of the behaviour of everyone in the profession. They maintain that most pigeon fanciers take care of their birds as the precious possession that they are.
PETA also claims that the sport is cruel because some birds die in flight. Between 75 and 95 percent of birds in cross-channel races go missing, presumed dead.
Finally, PETA has levelled a charge with regards to a process known as ‘widowing’. Pigeons are naturally monogamous creatures who find mates and then both sit on the nest together in their pigeon pair. Widowing is when pairs are split up and then one is taken to race, knowing they will fly faster to get back to their mate and their territory.
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