The pricey pigeon and other super expensive animals

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New Kim the pigeonImage source, Reuters
Image caption,
She's got expensive genes! New Kim is a record-breaking pigeon

New Kim, a two-year-old champion racing pigeon was sold at auction for a record-breaking $1.8million. That's around £1.3million. For a pigeon!

The auction house PIPA said: "We did not expect a pigeon (price) would go so high"

Belgian pigeons have a reputation for fetching a high price. New Kim has overtaken a pigeon called Armando, nicknamed the "Lewis Hamilton of pigeons" who was bought for a pricy £1.07million in 2019.

New Kim was bred by Gaston van de Wouwer, a well-known trainer of champion racing pigeons, who is now retiring and selling all of his 400 birds.

But, New Kim is not alone in the pricey animal list...

Super sheepdog

Image source, Glen Minikin

Megan broke the record for the price paid for a sheepdog. She was sold during an auction, with a winning bid of £18,900.

Megan was trained by Emma Gray, a shepherdess who spends her time breeding and training sheepdogs.

Megan's been bought by a farmer in Oklahoma, America.

Emma said: "Megan is such a special dog. She's become very valuable."

Tibetan Mastiff dog

Image source, Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
Image caption,
A Tibetan mastiff dog is displayed for sale at a mastiff show in China

This huge big ball of fur can be sold for prices up to around £945,000!

Mastiffs have become a prized status-symbol amongst China's wealthy population, with rich buyers across the country pushing the prices higher and higher.

They are descendents of dogs used for hunting by ancient tribes in central Asia and Tibet and are fiercely loyal and protective.

For that price, you'd certainly hope so!

Giant tuna

Image source, EPA
Image caption,
Mr Kimura with the 278kg (612lbs) bluefin tuna he bought

A Japanese boss paid a record £2.5 million ($3.1 million) for a giant tuna at an auction in Tokyo's new fish market earlier this year.

Self-styled "Tuna King" Kiyoshi Kimura bought the 278kg bluefin tuna, which is an endangered species.

Bluefin tuna is so valuable because it's thought to make the tastiest sushi - a popular Japanese dish made with different types of raw fish and rice.

But lots of people are worried about the future of the bluefin tuna. Because they are so valuable, too many are being caught and taken out of the sea.

Sheep

Image source, Getty Images

A sheep named Deveronvale Perfection from Banffshire, Scotland, sold for the remarkable sum of £231,000 in 2009. What a baa-rmy price!

It is believed to be the world's most expensive sheep.

The high price has been put down to the lamb's strong physical attributes.

Missy the cow

Image source, Getty Images

Missy the cow sold for a whopping $1.2 million dollars in 2009.

The show cow was such a large sum due to her perfect proportions. Who knew!