THE ban will not be enforced until new environment regulations outlining the 100-year-old sport have been amended. That’s according to the Department of Environmental Affairs.

This follows the listing of the feral pigeon as a category 3 invasive species, in terms of the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations. Feral pigeons are commonly used in pigeon racing and are also called city pigeons, or street pigeons, which are derived from domestic pigeons that have returned to the wild.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) last week issued a statement saying pigeon racing was now illegal. The organisation had raised concerns about possible cruelty to the birds relating to the sport.

“Activities including the importing, breeding, trading in and translocation of pigeons are now listed as prohibited activities in terms of the Government Gazette of 01 August. The prohibition includes the ‘releasing of any specimen of a listed invasive species’ which effectively means that releasing pigeons to race or as homing pigeons is now illegal,” the NSPCA said.

The organisation said it had welfare concerns regarding the sport of pigeon racing. These include the rate of attrition during races and the high number of pigeons who do not reach their race destination for various reasons including exhaustion and racing taking place in inclement or extreme weather conditions.

However, Zolile Nqayi, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Affairs confirmed regulations will not be enforced against pigeon racing and associated activities, until the regulations are amended, following engagements with the industry associations.

“The department has engaged with specialists, and have reached an agreement that the activities of the pigeon racing fraternity will have no significant impact on the invasion by the feral pigeon. The numbers are reasonably low in relation to the existing invasions, that it is possible to provide exemption for the racing pigeon activities. These will be discussed with the relevant associations,” Nqayi explained.

Chairman of the Durban North Pigeon Racing Club Louis van Aswegen said KZN clubs had a good understanding with the SPCA but agreed regulations needed to change.

“We have more than 170 members and eight clubs in KZN. The racing season begins at the end of May and runs until September. Countrywide it’s a huge sport and it would be a pity if we lost it. It has been a professional sport for a 100 years.

“We have a good understanding with the SPCA and have had several meeting with them and the president of the SA National Pigeon Organisation (Sanpo), Faunty Gillmer. We have implemented measures suggested by the SPCA, like bringing extra food for the pigeons to race weekends. It was also suggested that trucks carrying pigeons have built in water tanks which we have also implemented,” van Aswegen said.