The Overlooked Data: The Shocking Truth About Pigeon Racing Survival Rates

Pigeon racing, an activity perceived from the outside as full of tradition and passion, hides a cruel side rarely discussed publicly behind the glittering prizes and glory: an extremely low survival rate. This article reveals, through concrete data and facts, the true situation faced by pigeons in this sport.

Let's start with a core metric: the return rate. In typical maritime pigeon races in Taiwan, it is common for a single race to result in the deaths of thousands or even tens of thousands of pigeons. According to data cited by animal protection groups like the Taiwan Bird Rescue Association, the return rate for racing pigeons is often 1% or lower. A more specific case is a spring 2024 race by a Tainan pigeon club, where out of 1,349 racing pigeons, only 15 completed the race, a return rate of merely 1.11%. This means over 98% of the pigeons did not return home.

Data on a larger scale is equally staggering. Legislator Chen Jiao-hua stated at a press conference that in a last winter's race, out of more than 45,000 participating pigeons, after qualifying and several race stages, only 722 successfully returned, an overall return rate of 1.58%. The Secretary-General of the Taiwan Bird Rescue Association, Wu Qunyi, further indicated that about 350,000 pigeons race each year, with possibly less than 2% surviving the competition. These cold numbers point directly to one fact: for most participating pigeons, the journey is a one-way trip with no return.

Why are casualties in maritime races so severe? This is closely related to the pigeon's nature and the race environment. The domestic pigeon is descended from the rock dove, which primarily inhabits inland Eurasia and has the instinct for long-distance flight over land. However, the maritime race environment is fraught with immense risks not present in its native habitat: unpredictable sea conditions, sudden extreme weather, disorientation due to lack of landmarks, and exhaustion from long-distance flight. Once exhausted or lost on the open sea, death is almost certain for a pigeon. Animal protection groups describe scenes where pigeons, exhausted in severe weather, fall into the sea en masse, like "pigeon rain".

Beyond environmental risks, some practices within the industry aimed at pursuing better results also directly affect pigeon welfare and survival chances. For example, some participants use the "widowerhood system," separating paired male and female pigeons for long periods and reuniting them only briefly before the race, exploiting their attachment to the nest and mate to stimulate rapid homing. For hens, they may be made to lay and incubate eggs before the race, using maternal instinct to drive them home to feed their young. These practices violate the natural social behavior of pigeons, which are monogamous. Furthermore, to make pigeons return faster, withholding food the day before a race, sending them off hungry, is a common tactic. Even worse, some races proceed despite known bad weather, effectively sending pigeons to their death.

The fate of pigeons that fail to return on time is equally bleak. They may become lost and disappear, die at sea, or even if they luckily survive or return late, be abandoned by their owners for losing competitive value. Among the racing pigeons rescued by the Taiwan Bird Rescue Association, many have their wings cut or broken because they "returned too late from the race, they are no longer profitable". The association has even rescued a pigeon whose wings were broken twice, meaning the bird struggled back to the loft after the first abandonment, only to be mutilated again. Another threat comes from criminal gangs engaging in "pigeon kidnapping," capturing birds in flight with nets to ransom them to owners; if the owner bargains, the pigeon may be deliberately injured.

This contrasts with a pigeon's natural lifespan of around 12 years. Yet, the age of participating pigeons is typically limited to 4 or 8 months, with many dying in races before reaching one year old. Their entire life may be solely for that one risky flight.

Currently, pigeon racing activity exists in a legal grey area. As it is considered a non-"human-operated" competition, it does not fall under sports authorities. Aspects involving animal injury fall under the Agriculture Council, and those involving gambling under the police. Consequently, there is a lack of a strong, clearly responsible regulatory authority. Some races even use foreign vessels and operate in international waters to evade scrutiny. Legislators and animal protection groups are therefore calling for legal reform to address this issue and bring an end to such cruel competitions.

Understanding these truths is not about wholly rejecting this historical activity, but about prompting all participants and observers to engage in deeper reflection. The sustainable development of an industry must be built on respect for life and the pursuit of ethical standards. Finding a balance between passion, tradition, and animal welfare is a question the sport of pigeon racing must seriously confront in the future.