Pigeon collection yields record amount

dentergem - The Belgian pigeon fancier Gaby Vandenabeele decided earlier this year to stop the pigeon sport. He has auctioned his collection in the past few days and that did not do him any harm. Especially the pigeon called 'New Bliksem' threw high eyes: the animal was eventually bought for 376,000 euros.

The auction of the collection lasted three days and closed on Monday afternoon. On Sunday evening the counter stood at 5.6 million euros, a record amount that could even rise.

The 69-year-old Vandenabeele from Dentergem was suffering from a so-called 'pigeon fist lung', an allergic reaction of the lungs by 'pigeon dust'. The pigeon fancier stops now on doctor's advice: he sold 815 prize animals.