India experienced a unique espionage saga after security services captured a pigeon it believed to be a Chinese spy.

Amid heightened tensions between India and China, India’s Central Industrial Security Force captured a pigeon in a major Mumbai port in May of last year. The pigeon set off alarm bells when an officer noticed foreign writing on its wings and plastic rings around its feet. Suspecting a novel method of espionage from China, the officer notified his superiors.