Cooing of doves delights fans in Thailand and Malaysia
KOTA BHARU: To their fans, the cooing sounds that doves make are as beautiful as the voices of famous singers.
Such is the admiration for them that their prices range from RM5,000 to more than RM50,000, says Noor Awang, the organiser of the ‘ Burung Merbuk and Tekukur’ Singing Competition.
In Kelantan, these birds are called ketitir, while in Kedah, they are known as merbuk, while the variety that has the most beautiful voice is the tekukur.
According to Noor, 65, the voices of the birds are assessed by at least 25 judges who are well-tuned to the sound of birds singing.
Speaking to Bernama after the competition in Kampung Padang Lengkuas, Melor here yesterday, Noor said 450 songbirds from Thailand and Malaysia took part in the contest.
He said the birds which usually win these competitions are a mixture of the Thai-Malaysian breed which have a unique voice.
According to breeder Yusof Mohamad, 79, he fielded three birds of the Columbian breed in the competition.
The former security guard said he had been breeding birds for 35 years and the hobby is a source of great satisfaction to him.
Fellow breeder Mohd Yusdi Che Soh, 42, from Kampung Jalan Raja Dewa here said he has 30 birds and has been rearing them since he was a schoolboy.
“Every Friday, we breeders gather and hold our own contests as training for the birds and to foster closer ties among us,” he said. — Bernama