Indian police finally let a suspected Chinese spy pigeon spread its wings and fly free after eight months of detention.
Here's the scoop: back in May, this feathery fellow was nabbed near a Mumbai port with two rings tied to its legs and wings, covered in what seemed to be Chinese characters.
Cue the suspenseful music!
Naturally, the police assumed this pigeon was involved in espionage. They took the pigeon into custody and sent it to Mumbai's Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals.
But wait for the twist!
It turns out this pigeon wasn't on a covert mission after all.
Nope, this little thrill-seeker was just an "open-water racing bird" from Taiwan who took a wrong turn and ended up in the hustle and bustle of Mumbai.
With a sigh of relief and a nod from the authorities, the pigeon finally got a one-way ticket to freedom. Doctors at the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals set it free on Tuesday.
But don't be fooled. If it flies, it spies ... (iykyk)
This isn't the first time our feathered friends have ruffled some feathers. In 2020, police in Indian-controlled Kashmir had a similar run-in with a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman. And back in 2016, another pigeon landed itself in hot water with Indian authorities over a rather threatening note to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ah, the drama of the avian world!
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