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Photos: MacArthur competition, a deadly affair between pigeons and humans

The MacArthur competition is a brutal 600-kilometre gauntlet during which competitors face searing heat, wild seas, vicious predators, and the threat of kidnapping. This is the Philippines' longest homing pigeon race, a tough challenge for the birds and a tense affair for the owners. Only one in ten will finish.

Updated on: May 17, 2019 9:42 AM IST

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A pigeon hobbyist shows off one of his birds tagged for the MacArthur competition at his home inside a cemetery in Manila. The competition is a brutal 600-kilometre gauntlet during which competitors face searing heat, wild seas, vicious predators, and the threat of kidnapping. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

Updated on May 17, 2019 9:42 AM

A pigeon hobbyist shows off one of his birds tagged for the MacArthur competition at his home inside a cemetery in Manila. The competition is a brutal 600-kilometre gauntlet during which competitors face searing heat, wild seas, vicious predators, and the threat of kidnapping. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

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An employee of Philippine pigeon homing association tags a pigeon taking part in the competition, the longest homing pigeon race in the Philippines. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

Updated on May 17, 2019 9:42 AM

An employee of Philippine pigeon homing association tags a pigeon taking part in the competition, the longest homing pigeon race in the Philippines. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

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An employee of the Philippine Pigeon Homing Association Incorporated loads a pigeon onto a cage in a truck prior to the competition. Fishing nets are set up in the mountains to capture these birds. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

Updated on May 17, 2019 9:42 AM

An employee of the Philippine Pigeon Homing Association Incorporated loads a pigeon onto a cage in a truck prior to the competition. Fishing nets are set up in the mountains to capture these birds. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

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Pigeon fanciers queue up to register their birds at the Pigeon Homing Association's office. It’s a nefarious side-effect of the hobby’s swelling popularity in the Philippines, where there are now at least 300 clubs with thousands of members. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

Updated on May 17, 2019 9:42 AM

Pigeon fanciers queue up to register their birds at the Pigeon Homing Association's office. It’s a nefarious side-effect of the hobby’s swelling popularity in the Philippines, where there are now at least 300 clubs with thousands of members. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

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A 15-year-old aspiring pigeon fancier Christopher Sibug trains his pigeons at home inside a cemetery in Manila. The competition can be a tough challenge for the birds and a tense affair for the owners. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

Updated on May 17, 2019 9:42 AM

A 15-year-old aspiring pigeon fancier Christopher Sibug trains his pigeons at home inside a cemetery in Manila. The competition can be a tough challenge for the birds and a tense affair for the owners. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

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Jaime Lim, one of the Philippines' best-known pigeon fanciers, shows one of his racing pigeons at his home in Manila. “Compared to Europe and the United States, we have lots of predators here and a lot of people who shoot these birds,” said Jaime Lim. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

Updated on May 17, 2019 9:42 AM

Jaime Lim, one of the Philippines' best-known pigeon fanciers, shows one of his racing pigeons at his home in Manila. “Compared to Europe and the United States, we have lots of predators here and a lot of people who shoot these birds,” said Jaime Lim. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

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An employee of the Philippine pigeon homing association tags a pigeon. Racing pigeons can be worth thousands of dollars but some that are kidnapped are sold off to unfair fanciers for as little as $14. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

Updated on May 17, 2019 9:42 AM

An employee of the Philippine pigeon homing association tags a pigeon. Racing pigeons can be worth thousands of dollars but some that are kidnapped are sold off to unfair fanciers for as little as $14. (Ted Aljibe / AFP)

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