Technology Replaces Last Pigeon Courier Service

The world's last pigeon courier service has closed. The Times are reporting that the 1,400 birds of Orissa’s police pigeon service in India have been ordered to "flee their lofts" due to the rise in email and mobile phones usage.

A total of 810 well-fed pigeons make up the roster at the headquarters of the Orissa police pigeon carrier service in Cuttack and there are 574 in other stations. Their barracks comprise of 26 lofts, minded by 26 “pigeon constables”. Although they are rarely called into active service, pigeons are still trained to perform a variety of tasks. Some are taught to take messages back to headquarters, others, known as “boomerangs” deliver and return with messages. The most clever pigeons of all are able to deliver messages to a number of addresses.