Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) - Even after the inclusion of carrier pigeons on the list of intangible UNESCO cultural heritage, the sporting use of carrier pigeons remains controversial. The State Animal Protection Association of Hesse complains that the races are associated with extreme stress for the animals. "Many pigeons get lost, die from exhaustion, are hit by predators or can't find their way home in the long term and then join the much-lamented city pigeons," said animal rights activist Barbara Felde.
The Wiesbaden pigeon breeder Herbert Reichstein, German champion 2019 and 2021, cannot understand the criticism. In his opinion, the life of the pigeons is always at risk as soon as they are outside their crate. "I've lost a lot of pigeons because they were attacked by birds of prey here in my garden," he said.
The carrier pigeon system was added to the list of intangible cultural heritage in March. Unesco praised the fact that the Association of German carrier pigeon breeders had opened up a dialogue with animal protection organizations "in order to do more justice to controversial points of the practice". The carrier pigeon system only managed to get the recording on the second attempt. The first application was rejected in 2018 by the Conference of Ministers of Education.
