Sugar pigeon, which set a record for longevity of 43 years, has died in the USA.

The oldest pigeon in the world has died in the United States — a bird named Sugar lived to 43 years old, setting a record for longevity, the Oddity Central portal reported on April 9.

The previous world record for life expectancy among pigeons was less by almost 15 years. Sugar's owner, 77-year-old Dewayne Orender, dreamed that his pet would live to see his 50th birthday. According to the man, the pigeon was not just a pet for him, but also a true friend.

"He was very happy and always by my side. We were best friends," the man said.One day, Orender ended up in the hospital, and the pigeon was very hard to bear the separation. He refused to eat and lay at the bottom of the cage all the time. Only after the return of the owner did the bird quickly come to its senses.In October 2025, the Moscow Zoo announced the death of the long-lived tapir Sue, who was 37 years old. The zoo clarified that in nature these animals rarely live to be 24 years old, and in zoos their life expectancy is usually about 25-30 years.