In a bizarre incident, a bird has now become Australian media’s talking point and caught people’s attention but only to be killed. A racing pigeon is now facing a “quarantine risk” after it undertook 13,000 kilometres of journey from the United States to Australia.
Kevin Celli-Bird, a resident of Melbourne, had spotted the exhaustive pigeon in his backward on December 26. The experts believe the pigeon hitched a ride on a cargo ship to cross the pacific ocean, after it disappeared from a race in the US state of Oregon on October 29.
However, what’s interest to note is the fact that the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service are considering to kill the bird as it poses “quarantine risk”.
Celli-Bird had informed that the quarantine authorities had called the former and asked him to catch hold the bird. “They said if it is from America, they’re concerned about bird disease”, says Celli-Bird.
Taking cognisance of the issue the authorities have mulling over contacting the professional bird catcher.
“Not permitted to remain in Australia as it could compromise Australia’s food security and our wild bird populations”, said Agriculture Department that is responsible for biosecurity.
It further added “it poses a direct biosecurity risk to Australian birdlife and our poultry industry.”
The Oklahoma-based American Racing Pigeon Union had confirmed that Joe was registered to an owner in Montgomery, Alabama.
Before this, the greatest long-distance flight recorded by a pigeon is one that started at Arras in France and ended in Saigon, Vietnam in 1931. It covered distance of about 11,600 km which took 24 days.
