Belgian Racing Pigeon New Kim Sold For A Record Breaking $1.9 Million

The online auction for racing pigeon New Kim has set a world record with the sale price of 1.6 million euros ($1.9 million), for the Belgian-bred bird.

The two-week auction, which was held by online auction house Pipa, ended Sunday. Bidding began on Nov. 2 and started off at 200 euros ($236.81).

However, during the final hours of the auction, the price for New Kim began to rapidly increase, the Guardian noted.

Two Chinese bidders, who were biding under the alias Super Duper and Hitman, drove up the prices, surpassing the record-high sale of Belgian racing pigeon Armando in March 2019 for almost $1.5 million.

“These record prices are unbelievable because this is a female. Armando was a male. Usually, a male is worth more than a female because it can produce more offspring,” Nikolaas Gyselbrecht, the chief executive of Pipa, explained.

In the end, Super Duper won the auction and is suspected to be the alias of the same wealthy Chinese industrialist who won Armando last year, the Associated Press reported.

The purchase of the two racing pigeons by the same owner allows the opportunity for the breeding of the two champion birds.

Gyselbrecht stated that New Kim was 2 years old and has only raced in 2018. Since she was victorious in her competition and won the title of "best young bird" in Belgium, New Kim was allowed to retire early.

Since pigeons can breed up until the age of 10, New Kim is expected to have many chicks over the next few years.

Pigeon racing was believed to be a fading sport that started as a hobby in Western Europe for working-class men. The pastime has been revitalized by the wealthy elite.