He told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) he inherited his deep love for pigeons from his grandfather and uncle. Ahmed Khalifa, head of the Egyptian Federation for Homing Pigeons, said the ancient tradition dates back to the time of the pharaohs. Neither regional instability nor the coronavirus pandemic have dampened enthusiasm for keeping the birds and popular pigeon races still draw crowds. In Yemen where a six-year deadly civil war has left the country on the brink of famine, according to the UN, pigeon races were still being held last year. Racing pigeons can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour and can cover distances of hundreds of kilometers, the Egyptian Federation’s Khalifa said.

Source: Manila Times March 11, 2021 16:33 UTC