PIETER VEENSTRA auctioned 245 pigeons on the Belgian Web site Pigeon Paradise, or PIPA, for over 1.6 million pounds (US$2.5 million), including the record-breaking hen, of the Dolce Vita breed.

The buyer, Hu Zhenyu, is a Chinese shipping magnate, who bought the bird for breeding rather than racing in China, where pigeon fancying is a fast growing sport and big business.

His purchase beat the previous best-selling pigeon, named Euro Diamond, which sold for 142,000 pounds in November last year.

The record-breaking price fetched by the bird has sparked a furious debate in the world of pigeon racing, a cult sport in Britain, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany that is not traditionally regarded as a rich man’s pursuit.

Ken Ambler, a fancier from Oxenhope in West Yorkshire, said that the sport pigeon racing had been transformed since he took it up 70 years ago with expensive birds now “housed in luxury” compared to “the basic orange box lofts of yesteryear.”

“We must not forget pigeon racing is a simple sport to be enjoyed by all who wish to become involved for the right reasons,” he said.

Terence Wright, from Ireland, said: “Is it so good to see all these top European birds go to China, to see the best stock leave our shores and to know that soon our best pigeons bloodlines will be no longer available to the fanciers of Europe?” (SD-Agencies)