Zebra Dove Farming in the Southern Border Province of Songkhla (29/3/2015) Zebra doves (Geopelia striata) are raised as popular pets in southern Thailand and other ASEAN countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia. In Thailand, many people believe that having a zebra dove in their home will bring the family good luck. Known for their pleasant cooing calls, the birds are taken to competition fields and have become an economic animal. Chana district in Songkhla province is famous for zebra dove farming, which is now a lucrative business and generates supplementary occupations, such as those concerning the making of birdcages and the production of bird feed. Zebra dove farming in Chana began in 1969. The success of local breeding has given Chana an international reputation, as local residents have exported doves to various countries, such as Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, bringing in a sizable income. The first zebra dove competition in Chana was organized in 1977. Later, in 1980, the Southern Zebra Dove Club and the Chana Zebra Dove Club were set up. In 1982, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, for the first time, donated a trophy for the Chana Zebra Dove Club to present to the winner of the cooing dove competition. Since then, the competition has been held annually at the Wangdi field in Taling Chan subdistrict, Chana district, for the royal trophy. There are currently about 1,600 zebra dove farms in Chana. Out of this number, 40 are large farms and the rest are small farms. Each large farm has around 200-400 dove breeders, while a small farm has 20-40 breeders on average. Altogether, about 3,000-4,000 baby zebra doves are produced each month on average. Major markets include Malaysia and Singapore. In each cooing dove competition, raisers from various provinces, such as Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Suphan Buri, and Kanchanaburi, participate in this event, together with those from ASEAN countries, such as Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The doves are judged by their melody, the loudness of their cooing, and pitch. Good cooing doves can command a high price in the market. The development of competitions has led to the spread of zebra dove breeding at homes and on farms, which has played a significant role in the local lifestyle, economy, and society. The high value of this kind of bird has created more job opportunities in Chana, and cooing dove contests help stimulate and drive the local economy. Moreover, Chana district has become known as a dove-breeding community because of its success in preserving this species of birds. Today, about 30-35 percent of local residents in Chana are engaged in zebra dove raising. They also earn additional income from the production of birdcages and other related devices, bird feed, and bird medicine. All these items are sold in the country and overseas, bringing about 80-100 million baht in income to Chana district. Zebra dove culture in Chana is becoming more popular, and prospects are bright for this business. The Chana Power Plant and the Thai-Malaysian Gas Separation Plant, located in Chana district, have given support for the development of the zebra dove competition field and other related activities. 29/09/2021 Page 1 กรมประชาสัมพันธ์.