PIGEONS SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES

Pigeons were used as vital messengers during World War 1 and World War 2. Thanks to these smart carriers and their successful delivery of extremely important missives, thousands of lives were saved. For their bravery, some pigeons received the Dickin medal, the highest medal awarded to an animal. Of the 55 medals awarded to date, pigeons have been recognised 32 times.

One of the most touching stories is Winkie who in WWII flew home to his loft and thereby saved 4 men from drowning in the cold sea.  

Unfortunately, homing is also used for pigeon racing, or pigeon marathons. Separated from their nests, pigeons are taken over hundreds and thousands of miles away, then released to find their pigeon lofts. The prizes given to the winners are worth millions of dollars, but for the pigeons this proves deadly as they flight home mostly costs their life. Many of them don’t make it. Some are even taken from their nests before they are 1years old.  

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