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The Straits Times
ST Forum
Feb 12, 2010
Have some compassion for pigeons
RECENTLY, I witnessed the agonising deaths of many pigeons in my neighbourhood. They were killed by a pest control company with poisoned food. Such cases happen regularly. I am writing in the hope of raising general awareness on this.
To pigeon lovers, for the sake of the birds, please do not feed them. Overpopulation of pigeons poses a problem to some residents who may complain to the town council, which will engage pest controllers to poison the pigeons.
To non-pigeon lovers, I seek your kind understanding that all that the pigeons want is to live and eat, as we humans do. Although some of us may not like birds and animals, I believe we do not want to pass a death sentence on them. Please think twice before making a complaint.
To town council officers, I implore you to choose the compassionate and wise option of educating the public instead of taking the easy way out that is violent and only temporary. Posters can be put up to remind people not to feed the birds, and to inform them what happens when the birds overpopulate. When I called to ask how many complaints were lodged on the birds, the officer simply told me repeatedly she could not reveal that, an answer I failed to understand.
According to the Pigeon Control Advisory Service (www.picasuk.com), 'conventional pest control options such as lethal control have simply acted to increase pigeon numbers, not reduce them'. Poisoning the birds also poses a threat to the safety of young children and pets, as they may unwittingly play with or even consume the leftover poisoned food. A long-term solution to curb the population is to refrain from feeding them and dispose of food waste properly.
To quote Mahatma Gandhi, 'the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man'.
Akiko Ng (Ms)
