Mandya pigeon flies 1790 km from Delhi to reunite with owner

A one-year-old racing pigeon named Abhimanyu flew 1,790 km from Delhi to Mandya in 52 days, becoming the youngest to complete such a feat. His return has made headlines in pigeon racing circles and moved his owner to tears

Mandya: In a rare and heartwarming feat, a one-year-old racing pigeon named Abhimanyu has captured attention by flying 1,790 kilometers from Delhi to Mandya in 52 days to find its way back to its owner. The astonishing event has set a new record in the regional pigeon racing circuit and made Mandya the backdrop for this extraordinary tale of instinct and endurance.

The pigeon belonged to Sridhar, a resident of VC Farm in Mandya. Abhimanyu was one among 22 pigeons released as part of the Delhi Race, organised by the Karnataka Homing Pigeon Federation. The race, held in April, featured participants from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. All pigeons were tagged with identification rings before being released in Delhi on April 5.

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While several birds struggled to return, Abhimanyu, despite being the youngest among them, flew across states and harsh terrains, finally reaching his home in Mandya on May 28, completing a journey of over 1,790 km. Out of the 22 birds, 14 managed to return home, but Abhimanyu’s return stands out as he was the youngest and least experienced, making his homecoming all the more remarkable.

“This was his first race. To think that a pigeon barely a year old could navigate such a long distance and return home is beyond our expectations,” said Sridhar, visibly emotional about the bird’s return. “We knew these birds are trained to return, but this journey, given the bird’s age and inexperience, was extraordinary.”

The pigeon’s achievement has garnered admiration among bird trainers and pigeon racing enthusiasts. In regions like Mandya, pigeon racing is gaining popularity, with enthusiasts investing crores of rupees into the sport, training, and breeding of pigeons meant for long-distance endurance races.

Abhimanyu’s feat has now placed him on the radar of national pigeon racing circles, and enthusiasts are hailing it as a symbol of dedication, loyalty, and natural homing instinct. Racing experts say it’s extremely rare for such a young bird to perform so well in a high-stakes, long-distance race.

“This is an impressive achievement in Indian pigeon racing,” said an official from the Karnataka Homing Pigeon Federation. “Abhimanyu’s case is an example of not just good training but also a testament to the natural navigation ability these birds possess.”

With this incredible feat, Abhimanyu has not only reunited with his owner but also flown into the history books as the youngest pigeon to successfully complete such a long journey in his debut race — and perhaps even redefined what’s possible in the world of pigeon racing.