Did Pigeons carry Mails?
Hello friends. This is a very important question which arises often in our mind. During the ancient times, pigeons were used to carry mails from place to place in countries like China, India and Persia. The pigeons were given special training to carry the mails and letters. Generally the letters drafted in a palm leaf was fastened to the legs of the pigeons and sent to the destinations. Some kings used to tie the mails around their neck as well. But the modern usage of pigeons to deliver mails took place only in Paris during 1870s, when France and Prussia were at war. The Prussians had surrounded France and they never allowed any person or mails to enter of leave France which resulted in usage of trained pigeons. The French used balloons, which carried hundreds of homing pigeons. Thirty five pigeons used to carry the same letter so that in case, if some were shot dead, at least one would reach the destination. The letters were first reduced in size by photography and films were fastened in the pigeon’s legs. When the pigeons reached Paris the films were projected in a large screen and had written on a paper and derived to homes in the city. This was called the “Pigeon Post”.
