The most expensive pigeon in the world: New Kim moves to China for 1.7 million

Another shock to the pigeon sport in Europe: New Kim moves to China for 1.7 million

Belgian pigeon New Kim immediately moves to China from Kurt Van de Wouver’s loft in Berlaar. With a price tag of 1.72 million Swiss francs, New Kim replaces Armando as the most expensive pigeon transfer in history. Armando had also moved to China in March 2019 from Joël Verschoot’s Belgian loft.

Chinese fans have never been able to admire the flying skills of the headwind specialist with a surprising wingspan. The serial winner of various classics, including the Ace Pigeon Championship, the Angoulême 2018 and the 2019 Long Distance Olympics, was only used for breeding.

It is quite possible that the male Armando and the female New Kim meet in the same loft. It is suspected that the pseudonym of the ‘Super Duper’ contractor is the same breeder who was able to secure Armando’s services.

“Super Duper” fought a real battle with “Hitman” during the last 30 minutes of the two-week transfer market. The auction of the Belgian noblewoman started at the price of 200 euros. A South African procurement consortium had temporarily raised the price to 1.4 million. But in the end, China’s purchasing power was stronger again.

The record price is all the more surprising because New Kim is a woman. Breeding pigeons generally get higher prices.

Unlike Armando, New Kim’s Palmarès is modest. The two-year-old hen flew only in the 2018 season and won the title of best young bird in Belgium.

The loss of New Kim is another major setback for pigeon racing in Europe. The hopeful talents (Bolt, Nadine) disappear again and again in Chinese breeding lofts, and thus out of the eyes of European fans.

In China, the prize pool of pigeon racing has skyrocketed in recent years. In addition to a lot of money, there are also machines to win. A Belgian pigeon is said to have already flown a Bentley, Mercedes G500 and Mercedes GL400 for its owner. This is what the proud breeder Jos Vercammen (“A Family of Winners”) writes on his homepage.

The increasing prize pool, however, also tempts doping and fraud. In 2018, pigeon enthusiasts Gong and Zhang were sentenced to three years of probation. They had won the 16th Shanghai Homing Pigeon Race and with it a cash prize of 160,000 francs by taking their pigeon to the finish on a high-speed train.

Even the sad, but probably inevitable, move gives hope. The scene already hopes in the offspring of Armando and New Kim and therefore in the ultimate super pigeon.

We stay tuned.