Her name was Bella, and she brought endless joy to Mohcine Bouzoubaa. But the blue-checkered pigeon, winner of several races, has now retired, and the pharmacist speaks of her with a catch in his voice. "I will remember her for the rest of my life," said the 53-year-old, who keeps 300 birds between the rooftop terrace of his Casablanca villa and a farm in Nouaceur, just south of Morocco's economic capital. "Watching a pigeon win a race is like seeing your child pass their final school exams," he said with a broad smile, his eyes sparkling. Some birds are almost part of the family. Black, an old jet-black male, even has his portrait hanging in the living room.

Breeders like Bouzoubaa, who devote their lives to racing pigeons, are legion in Casablanca. There are an estimated 1,000 in the city and nearly 20,000 nationwide, according to non-profits and organizations that run the competitions. The number of birds entered in speed and endurance races approaches 200,000, making Morocco one of Africa's leading centers for pigeon racing. Every enthusiast dreams of their pigeon becoming an "ace" – the top performer in its category. These "athletes" are often compared to racehorses: Some can reach speeds of 120 km/h, while others can fly for 24 hours without stopping.

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