December 2005, Taipei, Taiwan - Pigeon racing traces its roots back to Europe, but the Taiwanese claim to lead the world in their love for the sport, particularly its gambling aspects. Every year dozens of racing associations wager tens of millions of NT dollars ( NT 10 million = US $303,000) on pigeons entered in a 5 race meet, while owners of the winning birds take home large purses from a total pot estimated at over NT 2 Billion. Pigeon racing is such a big business that there are pigeon hospitals catering to injured birds with state-of-the-art techniques and organized criminal elements that trap pigeons and ransom them back to their owners. Each race in the 5 race meet is approximately 300 km with the birds flying the length of the island or being released from platforms at sea. Race losses are staggering with only 20-30 birds out of 3000 expected to complete the meet.

December 2005, Chicago - The Federal Appeal Court has upheld the City of Chicago’s ban on pigeons, rejecting claims that the ordinance is unconstitutional. The ban makes Chicago the only large U.S. city that outlaws pigeons, according to the American Racing Pigeon Union.

December 2005, Peterborough, U.K. - Birdbrain criminals stole 3 racing pigeons by breaking into the backyard loft of Philip Pearce on the Thursday before Christmas. Pearce said whoever took them didn’t know much about homing pigeons as all three birds came home on Christmas day. Apparently the thieves completely underestimated the birds’ homing abilities.

January 2006, Southern Spain - The Club de Palomos Deportivos de Alozaina ( Alozaina racing pigeon club) reported the killing of 70 birds, owned by members, with an estimated total value of 48,000 euros ($67,500). The club members were in the countryside doing training exercises when the birds flew off course and they lost sight of them. The next day they were all found shot about 14 km away. The incident was reported to the Civil Guard in the hope of finding those responsible.