Anshuman Poirekar/Hindustan Times/AP
Pigeons are released in Mumbai.
CNN
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The pigeon, held for eight months on suspicion of spying for China, was released by Indian authorities this week after intervention from animal rights group PETA, the group said in a statement.
“PETA India secures the pigeon’s release from captivity after learning that the pigeon was kept as case property for an astonishing eight months at Bhai Sakal Bai Dinshaw Petit Animal Hospital (BSDPHA) in Parel “We have taken action to ensure this,” PETA said.
The animal’s ordeal began in May last year when it was captured near a port in Mumbai. PETA added that the pigeon’s wings had a message written in what appeared to be Chinese. “This led to suspicion of espionage and police seized the bird, which was sent to BSDPHA in Mumbai for medical examination as part of the investigation.”
CNN has reached out to the Mumbai Police for comment.
In 2016, another pigeon was reportedly rescued after authorities found one with a note threatening Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the latest incident, PETA contacted the Mumbai police “without further delay…to grant official permission to release the pigeons into the hospital.”
“The bird was released on the hospital premises yesterday by BSDPHA Chief Medical Superintendent Colonel (Retd.) Dr. BB Kulkarni,” PETA said.
Previous Indian media reports said the bird was transferred to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where doctors released it on Tuesday. CNN has reached out to the Bombay SPCA for comment.
Although the pigeon incident made global headlines, “spy animals” being captured and exploited by the military is nothing new.
In 2019, an all-white beluga whale, later known as Hvardimir, gained international fame after it was spotted wearing a special harness with a camera mount. Experts suggested the whale may have been trained by the Russian military.
Beluga whales are social animals that hunt and travel in groups. Hvaldimir the whale is found alone and has been known to follow ships and play with the people on board.
He resurfaced in Swedish waters in 2023, with animal rights activists and marine experts expressing concern about his fate.