The $ 1.5 MILLION PIGEON: The racing bird named Armando sells almost three times the world record
The $ 1.5 MILLION PIGEON: Racing bird named Armando sells world record more than three times after bidding war between two Chinese enthusiasts
- The ‘Lewis Hamilton of the pigeons’ was sold on Sunday by the auction site PIPA
- Anonymous Chinese buyer paid more than three times the existing record of $ 426,000
- Seven of his descendants were also auctioned off and fetched an average of $ 24,000
A Belgian travel pigeon called Armando sold at auction for almost $ 1.5 million, more than three times the world record, after a bidding war between two Chinese amateurs.
“Nobody expected it. Nobody, ” Jorge Ferrari of auction site Pigeon Paradise (PIPA) said on Monday.
But Armando had his fair share of admirers, having been nicknamed the “Lewis Hamilton of pigeons” by Fred Vancaillie, president of the pigeon association of the Belgian district of Perwez.
Five-year-old Armando (pictured), the world’s most expensive carrier pigeon, was sold for $ 1.5 million by a Belgian auction site on Sunday.
Anonymous buyer in China paid Armando’s existing record $ 426,000 more than three times
Auction house PIPA also called Armando ‘the best Belgian long distance pigeon of all time’.
Chinese enthusiasm for long-distance carrier pigeon racing has caused prices to skyrocket, with birds from the traditional heart of the sport in Belgium being particularly prized.
However, until the furious auction that lasted Sunday night, the record price stood at 376,000 euros ($ 426,422).
Armando (pictured) has retired from racing, but he is still a valuable commodity as his owners will likely want to raise him and race his offspring
Race prize money in China can reach seven figures and seven of Armando’s products have also been auctioned for an average price of € 21,500.
Armando, a record long-distance running champion owned by Joel Verschoot, was ultimately sold to an anonymous buyer in China for 1,252,000 euros ($ 1.42 million).
To show how the buyer can hope to recoup their investment, not only can race prices in China reach seven figures, but seven of Armando’s descendants have also been auctioned for an average price of 21,500 euros each.
As pigeons can have chicks until they are around 10 years old, the five-year-old Flemish outfielder can have very profitable breeding years ahead of him.
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