ABSTRACT
Trained from an early age to geo-localise themselves in the sky, pigeons are able to recognise their way back home. Apart from carrying letters over long distances, messengers are also used for racing. In many parts of the world, pigeon fanciers, or “flyers” (who are mostly men, from teenagers to adults), raise the birds for the love of it and often for the passion of racing. Cuba is no exception. In Santiago de Cuba, many young men raise pigeons on the rooftops of their houses. Marlon, a 12 years old boy, is one of them. In releasing his favourite pigeon at 340 km from his home, Marlon does not know if he will ever see it again. The young boy dedicated months of his life to raise his pigeon from a squab to a future champion. Despite his devotion, he remained a young and unexperienced pigeon breeder. This chapter tells the story of an animal-human relationship based on love and care as well as the desire to come back home.
