SUN CITY MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE
CONCERNS REMAIN
Ongoing issues relating to the Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race continue to be of concern to the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) whose personnel were present at the “liberation” of the birds, monitored welfare during the race and at the finish. A veterinarian accompanied NSPCA personnel.
In 2012, 3 476 pigeons were basketed for release to participate in the race. As at Monday 30 January 2 259 pigeons had been reported as having returned to Sun City. The NSPCA has requested that monitoring of returning pigeons continues so that the rate of attrition can be accurately calculated. The fate of non-returning pigeons is unknown.
The engine of the truck containing birds valued at an estimated 3,5 million US dollars could not be switched off during re-fuelling due to a major mechanical problem. This vehicle later broke down over 300km from the liberation point. Arrangements were made for a vehicle from Johannesburg to tow the truck containing the pigeons. Being towed by a recovery vehicle meant that the valuable pigeons travelled at an angle for over seventeen hours. The NSPCA stepped in to prevent the transporter towing the truck through rough bushveld terrain to the liberation point.
Whilst the birds are being transported, the doors of the baskets were opening and NSPCA inspectors pointed out to the transporter at the time that this could lead to birds escaping.
The NSPCA has grave concerns and issued a five page warning to the legal team of the organisers relating to specific welfare issues.
Costs of R39 011.69 were incurred by the NSPCA’s Special Projects Unit.
This equates to public donations being utilised to monitor a so-called “sport” in which individuals benefit.
The Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race is run differently to other and particularly local races. This is international and a practice has developed of an owner in a country such as Australia sending a chick to the Sun City loft then not being involved in the rearing, feeding, training or caring for this bird. The owner never sees the chick again. This is not the customary procedure as the norm is for the owner to be directly involved.
Serious ongoing concerns are: -
Losses of birds as from intake to the end of the race
The time of the year when the race is held (temperature and weather conditions)
The manner of the training sessions
Lack of co-operation from the organisers throughout the year.
Based on experience from previous years, the NSPCA made recommendations and we confirm that with the exception of the outstanding issues listed above, the welfare proposals and recommendations have been implemented.
Appreciation is expressed to Sun International Pty Ltd trading as Sun City for co-operation including intervention with regard to gambling.
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