Pigeon Racing: Exposing the Cruel Truth and Inhumane Practices (video's)

 

Over the past decade or so, investigations have revealed the cruel behavior that occurs in pigeon racing.

Footage and eyewitness accounts have shown that pigeon racing is not a sport; rather, it is animal cruelty.

These poor birds are often kept in terrible conditions and are forced to race primarily for the entertainment of humans (and for money).

Of course, pigeons aren’t the only animals that are used for sport, but they are the focus of this particular expose.

Some people have claimed that certain racing pigeons have been treated well and that their living environments were more than adequate, but this isn’t always the case.

One pigeon trainer said he believes the birds are “happy to race.” But, of course, this is an example of anthropomorphism, and we can’t truly know the birds’ feelings and emotions.

This same trainer asserts that the pigeons “enjoy pampered lives,” while also admitting that the birds do not “volunteer” to race.

Source: PETA/YouTube

PETA has been encouraging people to speak out about pigeon racing for more than a decade. This includes an investigation that lasted two months that saw pigeons “forced to fly up to 900 miles” as part of cross-channel pigeon racing in the United Kingdom. According to this investigation, thousands of birds were presumed to have died as a result of this “grueling and hazardous” race.

Unfortunately, per PETA’s video footage, those pigeons who survived may have been killed due to not being “valuable enough” for racing or breeding. After PETA investigated large U.S.-based pigeon operations, three racing organizers were charged with violating “felony gambling laws” in Oklahoma.

During the 15-month investigation, which was released in 2012 and spanned five states, investigators discovered unwanted pigeons being killed and abused, and they also “documented massive casualties” of pigeons during training and racing.

According to the investigators, for races that could be up to 600 miles long, upwards of 60 percent of pigeons would get lost or die due to electrical lines, exhaustion, extreme weather, hunters, or predators. The most fatal of races are called “smash races.”

The most common hazard for these pigeons is predators — namely, birds of prey, which have been illegally killed by some pigeon fanciers who wanted to avoid the larger birds killing their “valuable pigeons.”

Another common hazard is when pigeons fly directly into objects they’re unable to see properly (or at all), due to difficult flying and/or weather conditions. These birds may return to their homes with missing feathers or with wounds.

Source: PETA/YouTube

Investigations on pigeon racing have been ongoing and, earlier this year, the Taiwan Bird Rescue Association (TBRA) called for more action against pigeon racing. In June, authorities “arrested members of a group” that supposedly “kidnapped racing pigeons for ransom.”

While pigeons can live up to 15 years and racing pigeons may be as old as 10, the racing scene in Taiwan may use birds in grueling races who are less than a year old. The Taichung City’s Animal Protection Office released a photo showing 34 caged racing pigeons — who’d been abandoned — whose legs and wings had been clipped.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to do much about pigeon racing in Taiwan, as racing organizations are “wary of outsiders” and their “pens are scattered” across the country. With the help of Shaunak, an animal rescuer based in India who was featured in last year’s documentary “All That Breathes,” the TBRA released a petition about pigeon racing in Taiwan.

The petition claims that the pigeon racing industry has been “plagued by animal cruelty and organized crime,” calling for a “thorough investigation” to determine the “full extent” of the crime and cruelty. The petition also seeks accountability and “legal consequences” regarding the people involved in the aforementioned “criminal activities.”

Source: PETA/YouTube

As physically taxing as it is for these birds to fly in races, it can be equally distressing for them before race release. For example, they could be crammed in cages with up to 20 other pigeons, who are then transported with many others for up to a week.

Also, because these pigeons might be released alongside other birds, they could all “exchange viruses and infections” on their return journeys. In addition, the ones who survive may bring back avian flu, which is dangerous for animals and humans alike.

Pigeons who supposedly aren’t “fast enough” and who aren’t considered useful for breeding will usually be “culled.” This means they’ll killed by decapitation, drowning, gassing, neck-breaking, or suffocation. Apparently, according to PETA documentation, one notable racer admitted he’d buy a dozen pigeons for breeding purposes, find the one he wanted, and then kill the rest and all of their offspring.

Another racer said that, when learning how to be a pigeon racer, “the first thing you have to learn” is “how to kill pigeons.” The pigeon racing industry is estimated to generate $15 million per year via illegal gambling, which consists of violations for racketeering, tax evasion, and federal gambling.

Source: ENTR en/YouTube

Pigeon racing is a cruel so-called sport that, even with the best of intentions, does not have positive results. The best thing that can happen for the birds is that they survive the race; but, even then, they will continue to be used in racing events until they are determined to be no longer of use and will eventually be killed in (oftentimes) brutal ways).

Despite people who claim that their pigeons are treated excellently and that they are not doing it for the money and/or entertainment, these birds are still being forced to do something that, were they able to speak up for themselves, they might not elect to do.

Do not Support pigeon racing; animal sanctuaries are encouraged to take in rescued racing pigeons, especially ones who are injured.

This article by Alyssa Christian was first published by One Green Planet on 19 December 2023. Nikolaas Gyselbrecht, founder of Pipa, a Belgian auction house for racing pigeons, shows a two-year old female pigeon named New Kim who just set a new world record price of $1.9m (REUTERS)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/29/pigeon-racing-taiwain-

Drugs, smuggling and abductions: inside the fast and furious world of pigeon racing in Taiwan

Video: After 5 years of campaigning against worlds first octopus farm in Spain, Compassion in World Farming has achieved a major victory: all plans are cancelled

 Plans for world's first octopus farm cancelled: 

 

CIWF celebrates success after 5 years of campaigning 

Compassion in World Farming www.ciwf.nl

 

The plans of the Spanish company Nueva Pescanova to build the world's first octopus farm in the port of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria have been scrapped. After five years of campaigning against the farm, which would be a nightmare for the well-being of the hyper-intelligent, sensitive octopus, animal welfare organization Compassion in World Farming has achieved success. 

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images]

 

Annemarie Brijder, Aquatic Animal Welfare Campaigner for Compassion in World Farming Netherlands: “We are incredibly greatfull! This is a major victory for the octopus and for all those thousands of people worldwide dedicated to protecting it. This beautiful, hyper-intelligent, sensitive animal does not belong locked up in a cage. It is now up to governments and the EU to ban octopus farming for good, before it can start elsewhere.”

 

Annually, 1 million – naturally solitary – octopuses would be kept in crowded, bare tanks in the planned hatchery, which would lead to great animal suffering: including stress, aggression, and cannibalism. Moreover, there is no scientifically approved method to kill the animals as painlessly as possible.

 

The farm would not only be a disaster for the welfare of these animals, but would also lead to environmental pollution and food waste. The animals would be fed wild-caught fish, which would put even greater pressure on already overfished oceans. In the first year, approximately 28,000 tonnes of wild-caught fish would be needed as feed to produce just 3,000 tonnes of octopus meat ^[1] .

 

Campaigning for years

 

The plans led to global outrage among animal welfare organizations, scientists, activists, and the general public. Today's news follows a recent campaign by Compassion in World Farming to urge the Port Authority of Las Palmas to officially withdraw the building permit application for the farm. The company had failed to submit the required environmental impact assessments. More than 43,000 emails were sent to the authority, including thousands from the Dutch.

 

Earlier today, the port authority confirmed that Nueva Pescanova is abandoning its plans to build the nursery in Las Palmas. Compassion in World Farming has campaigned for five years to stop the project. During that period, the organization published three major investigative reports, launched an open letters and postcard campaign in which many Dutch people participated, and mobilized other NGOs, experts, and celebrities to join the campaign.

 

Many people feel a connection with the octopus, especially after seeing the Oscar-winning documentary 'My Octopus Teacher', in which the general public was introduced to this incredibly intelligent, curious animal with the almost magical ability to change shape in a flash. 

 

TIMELINE

2021

In response to the plans for the world's first breeding facility, we published an extensive report with eight reasons not to keep this eight-armed animal in breeding facilities. The report led to a wave of outrage worldwide, including in the Netherlands.

2023

In February 2023, the US state of Washington announced it might ban farming. This followed the closure of a center in Hawaii where experiments with octopus farming were being conducted in secret. Thanks in part to our campaign, the octopus farm was forced to cease operations.

2024

Together with Eurogroup for Animals, we are publishing 'Exposing the environmental risks of octopus farming' : a new report in which we highlight the enormous damage to nature and the environment if the plans for the octopus farm go ahead. 

2025

In the summer, we sent a digital holiday postcard en message to the official Tourist Office on Gran Canaria, with the message: we would much rather come to your island without an octopus farm! On World Octopus Day, October 8, we are releasing a new report: 'The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture' and asking key policymakers to support an end to octopus farming.

2026

With two new campaigns, a petition to the Spanish Minister of Agriculture , and massive protest emails to the Port Authority of Gran Canaria , we continue to mount the pressure to stop the first octopus farm in Spain. There is also good news from the United States: after Washington and California, New York is the third state to ban inhumane farming . 

Elephant Zara 20 years of begging on the streets of India mentally and physically broken, rescued by Wildlife SOS India

 

An emaciated female elephant, that dragged herself through the day, with the overbearing weight of a carrier, will no longer suffer after being rescued by Wildlife SOS. Her frail structure held testimony to the life that she lived as a begging elephant moving from pillar-to-post.

Saved by Wildlife SOS just in time. Mentally and physically broken. A blanket to keep her warm

Wildlife SOS named her “Zara” which means princess – something that she rightly would have been, in her herd in the wild, but the evil clutches of illegal wildlife poaching snatched that joy from her and pushed her into a lifetime of captivity.

On the way to a better life. Thank you Wildlife SOS I have been following you for 20 years and I am so proud of you !!

Due to Zara’s rapidly deteriorating health, primarily affecting her joints, her owner was unable to meet her urgent medical needs. The nationwide lockdown that was imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, was the primary cause for Zara’s owner not being able to begin her medical treatment. As soon as relaxations were levied, he was determined that his elephant would live a better life under the care of Wildlife SOS at the Elephant Hospital situated in Mathura. The Elephant Hospital opened its gates for Zara’s arrival and to provide her with the necessary medical treatment that would give her the relief she rightfully deserves.

When Zara arrived at the Elephant Hospital, the fresh air and the unfamiliar whiff of her lush green surroundings made her cautious, as well as anxious.

At just the tender age of 21, Zara has developed a serious case of osteoarthritis that has seriously affected her forelimbs and compromised her posture and gait. Her right forelimb, in particular, is damaged, along with an inflamed elbow joint that is the main reason of the slight limp that she has as she walks.

It is heartbreaking to imagine that with such a seriously compromised leg, that she was able to survive all these years of abuse. It is clear that Zara has an unfathomable amount of strength and willpower. Zara also has a wound on her left elbow and shoulder, which will be regularly cleaned and dressed with antiseptic ointment for quick recovery.

Her joints, however, are of serious concern and the Wildlife SOS veterinarians will be conducting X-Rays, as well as a complete blood report to assess the exact condition and seriousness of her limbs. Zara will be administered joint supplements and anti-inflammatory ointment for relief.

Zara’s right fore limb is the primary cause of concern for the veterinarians. Zara presently weighs 1970kgs, which is visible in the distinct, protruding shape of her spine that is due to her malnourishment. To everyone’s relief, her vision is proper and she is slightly anxious about her new surroundings, which is why the elephant care staff and veterinarians are giving her the time that she needs.

Her first ever shower!! What a joy, 

Even in her pain and discomfort, Zara appears to have a zeal for life as she was quick to take a liking to her bucket of watermelons and splash her trunk around! Her enclosure is equipped with mud beds for her support, to take the weight off of her legs, and for her to rest. Although Zara just wishes to look around her enclosure and watch her neighbors, the resident pachyderms instead.

While Zara has been on a tiring journey, emerging from her past life and taking small steps into her new home, Wildlife SOS requests everyone to keep her in your prayers while their team of veterinarians, elephant care staff, and hospital staff work to make her comfortable.

She will no longer be paraded around on hot tarmac roads, or have just a few stalks of dry grass and bananas while tethered to a confined, concrete space, pushing to break free.

As this fragile and battered creature finds comfort in her new home, Wildlife SOS requests that you show her your support and love by making a donation HERE!

Elephant Manu also rescued from begging in the streets  ( video )

.www.wildlifesos.org

 

A small monkey dehydrated and frightened found in bus 302 in London hidden in a cage inside a laundry bag: RSPCA "more abandoned monkeys will follow due to new legislation"

 

Photos RSPCA  Royal Society Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Abandoned monkey found in laundry bag on London bus

Animal welfare charities say marmoset could be ‘first of many’ since new law on primate licenses and microchipping

Tue 21 Jul 2026 17.05 CEST

A “stressed and dehydrated” monkey has been found in a laundry bag on a London bus in what animal welfare charities warn could be the “first of many” abandonment's now owners must obtain primate licenses.

The female common marmoset was discovered on a 302 bus waiting in Kensal Rise, north-west London, on Friday by a passenger whose buggy was obstructed by the bag containing the monkey in a cage. The monkey has since been named Oyster after the London transport payment system.

The bus driver contacted the RSPCA, which handled 238 reports of primate neglect and cruelty between 2021 and 2025.

New legislation passed in April mandated that all primates kept in England are licensed and micro chipped. Owners who failed to obtain a license by 6 April risk an unlimited fine or jail

Oyster was abandoned on a 302 bus in Kensal Rise, north-west London, in a cage inside a laundry bag. 

Alison Cronin, the director of Monkey World and a contributor to the new legislation, said over the past decade “a lot of well-meaning people … have fallen victim to people on social media promoting these wild animals as good domestic pets”.

She said UK breeders were “making a killing” out of this misconception, though she welcomed the law change’s requirement for them to ensure they were only selling monkeys into homes with suitable environments.

Although a Born Free survey in January suggested there had been limited uptake of the new licensing system, Cronin said she had observed that many owners have since obtained licenses.

She said abandoned monkeys were “nothing new” and not necessarily a reflection of the law change. “These animals have been out there and subject to abuse and neglect for all of the years running up to this,” she said.

The driver and Metroline staff are aiding RSPCA inquiries to trace the person responsible for dumping the marmoset, which had not been microchipped.

Clare Dew, RSPCA London’s chief investigator, said Oyster’s abandonment “was clearly intentional”, and she suspected it was “a direct result of the new legislation”.

The “frightened marmoset” was well concealed in the bag, Dew said. “She’d been left with some apple but was, understandably, very stressed and dehydrated.”

Oyster is now healthy and living in a sanctuary with specialist primate facilities, where she “settled in really well over the weekend” and will be introduced to a male companion shortly.Evie Button, a RSPCA exotic animals expert, described primates as “highly intelligent and social wild animals who need a lot of space, mental stimulation and appropriate companions – needs that can’t be met by human company alone”.

She added: “There is a real concern that keepers who cannot or do not want to license their pet may now instead abandon them.”

The government estimates that 5,000 primates are kept as pets in England.

Chris Lewis, the captivity research and policy manager at Born Free, called on local authorities and the government to raise greater awareness of the law change.

“Primates are complex, intelligent animals whose needs cannot be met when kept as a pet,” he said. “Although not the complete ban which experts and primatologists advocated for, the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations represented an important step towards protecting privately kept primates, but their suspected it was “a direct result of the new legislation”.

The “frightened marmoset” was well concealed in the bag, Dew said. “She’d been left with some apple but was, understandably, very stressed and dehydrated.”

Oyster is now healthy and living in a sanctuary with specialist primate facilities, where she “settled in really well over the weekend” and will be introduced to a male companion shortly.

Rachel Hall

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Readers asked me: "How are the animals in Gaza getting along ? "We donated but don't hear about them anymore" ( video's an photos)

There is some food and water for the Palestinians, some kibbles for the animals, doctors and veterinary care, but not enough. The most shocking news is that they have no future. Trying to survive and cope with this hopeless situation. Each day more of their country is being occupied by Israel, there are no schools for the children, hospitals have been bombed,  the tents leak, water to wash themselves is scares. Hygiene is a huge problem. Baby's are born, nappies hard to come by or too expensive to buy. Countries such as my own, keep silent. They watch from a distance but are afraid to stand up against the country that is terrorizing the moslim people. They feel guilty because the Netherlands allowed 104.000 thousand Jews to be murdered in camps in WWII. Therefore they support  Israel.

Video in Gaza taken a year ago

https://sulala.ps/articles written last year.

Medical Point: Due to the intense and devastating war that has ravaged Palestine , animals are suffering from pain and wounds with no one to treat them. This is due to the mass displacement of people who were forced to evacuate from their homes. As a result, people have not been able to tend to animals as much, and many veterinary clinics have closed. To address this problem, Sulala has launched a pop-up medical point dedicated to treating animals.

Sulala Animal Rescue5 months ago

A lady brought her cat to the medical point today. He had wounds all over his body. The doctor found that he is suffering from sarcoptic mange, that he has almost no more teeth, and that his eyes were infected as well. we treated the skin affected by mange with saline solution and iodine, administered eye drops, and gave him other appropriate treatments.

Saeed is the founder of Sulala Animal Shelter Gaza.before the war began he had an animal shelter and was feeding stray animals

https://www.facebook.com/SulalaSociety/owner_reels

These many reels are heartwarming and at the same time terribly sad.

A citizen from Khan Younis contacted us to report a small kitten suffering from an abdominal issue since birth, as he noticed that he is not growing like his siblings and is still very small. After conducting a veterinary examination, it turned out that he is suffering from a hernia. The little one is now in a happy foster home with a nursing mom to provide him with warmth and natural nutrition, while our medical point follows up on his condition and provides him with continuous care and treatment. We will do everything necessary to support him and monitor his progress until he fully recovers