A pigeon, detained in Mumbai for eight months on suspicion of being a spy bird for China, has finally been released after authorities cleared it of any wrongdoing.
The bird, originally caught at a port in Mumbai in May, was found with rings tied to its legs that resembled Chinese characters, leading to suspicions that it was involved in espionage.
The Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals initially took custody of the pigeon, and it was later transferred to the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals, where authorities examined its markings and suspected it might have been used for spying.
Animal activist organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals played a role in securing the pigeon’s release.
PETA’s branch in India contacted the police and obtained a certificate for the bird’s freedom. The organization revealed that the police had found the pigeon with an illegible message on its wings in May 2023.
Later investigations revealed that the pigeon was, in fact, a racing bird from Taiwan that had escaped and flown to India.
Although there was uncertainty about its racing bird status due to the absence of a released serial number by the police, the pigeon was ultimately exonerated.
The Taiwan Pigeon Racing Association spokesperson mentioned that while the bird might have traveled from Taiwan to India, it remained unclear if the pigeon was genuinely a racing bird.
After being checked by veterinarians, the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released the pigeon, marking the end of its eight months in captivity.
This incident is not the first time pigeons have faced suspicion and detention in India on espionage grounds.
In 2016, a pigeon was apprehended in Kashmir with a threatening note aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and in 2015, another pigeon was detained and x-rayed near the India-Pakistan border due to a note in Urdu stamped on its feathers.
