Oh do we have some good news. Joe the Pigeon won’t be euthanised after all.
After the malnourished pigeon, now known as Joe was discovered on Boxing Day here in Australia at the end of last year, the mystery began to unravel and unfold.
As reported by ABC News, the pigeon was classified as a biosecurity risk after having reportedly flown to Australia from the United States.
With the investigation being spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, the story has only continued to unfold.
Now the bird has been confirmed to be Australian by the American Racing Pigeon Union in Oklahoma.
Yep, Joe the Pigeon will get to live his best life.
As per ABC News, the bird was deemed to be from the United States based on the band that the bird was wearing on its leg.
The band alluded to the fact that it was a racing pigeon from Oregon, United States. Based on that, Australian authorities planned to kill Joe as he may have posed as a potential disease risk.
The American Racing Pigeon Union made a statement via FaceBook, announcing that the band on Joe’s leg is not genuine and therefore he is an Australian bird.
“What a relief to know that Joe the Pigeon found in Australia does not wear a genuine AU band. The true band is in the U.S. worn by a Blue Bar, not the pigeon featured in news photos about Joe. The pigeon found in Australia sports a counterfeit band and need not be destroyed per biosecurity measures, because his actual home is in Australia. It is a disappointment that false information spreads so quickly, but we are appreciative that the real pigeon did not stray from the U.S.”
And yes, Joe the Pigeon’s appointed name is a topical one, having been named after US president-elect Joe Biden.
How 2021.
