Racing pigeons compete over hundreds of miles with welfare risks from extreme exertion, poor weather, and failure to return home leaving lost birds without food and shelter.
Long-distance racing places extreme physiological demands on pigeons, and failure rates indicate that mortality and suffering are common outcomes. Lost birds face dehydration and starvation. Welfare reform in pigeon racing should include distance limits correlated with weather conditions, release protocols that minimise mass losses, and improved identification systems to support lost bird recovery.