Responses to pigeon culling

Last Sunday, I had posted regarding the Sunday Time's article about Town Council resorting to poisoning pigeons in response to resident complains about pigeons being dirty and the possibility of the spread of diseases.

There were two responses in today's Forum in the Sunday Times which I am posting here for reading:


Poisoning birds an inhumane method

I refer to last Sunday's article, "Shocked by pigeon culling? Then stop feeding them".

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) shares the views of concerned citizens that poisoning of the birds is an inhumane method of population control. Humane alternatives, such as the bird-proofing techniques pointed out in the article, exist.

However, if poisoning continues to be the preferred choice of the authorities, pest control companies and town councils must ensure that the welfare of the birds remains a high priority.

Under no circumstances should a live bird be placed into a bag for disposal. Even if a bird is exhibiting signs of distress or disorientation, it should not be assumed that the amount of poison ingested is sufficient to kill the animal.

In 2008, the SPCA attended a scene of pigeon poisoning, where we retrieved some birds that were having diffculty flying. After a few days of observation, the birds were back to normal.

Had they been left in their environment, they would have been susceptible to road accidents or been attacked by predators, and they had been disposed of in bags, they would surely have endured much suffering before death.

It is evident that poisoning is an inhumane method which severely compromises the welfare of the birds. We hope the present method can be reviewed as soon as possible to prevent any further suffering.

Leaving dying birds in plain view of the public also serves to desensitise people to the act of killing and the suffering of the animals.

By Deidre Moss (Ms)
Executive Officer
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

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Life's precious, stop pigeon culling

In last Sunday's article, "Shocked by pigeon culling? Then stop feeding them", Jalan Besar Town Council's senior property manager Ng Cheng Tee referred to complaints received about the birds, including concerns about health hazards to humans.

But the question we need to ask is: Has anyone been really ill as a result of exposure to the pigeons?

Singapore General Hospital's Dr Tan Ai Ling was quoted as saying that all birds, not just pigeons, are potential sources of infection.

If simply by being potential sources of infection, the pigeons are deemed to be cullable, should we not also consider fellow human beings cullable when they are sick and would rank higher in terms of the potential to spread diseases?

The teacher Akiko Ng mentioned in the article is my wife. I found her visibly shaken after witnessing the culling of the pigeons.

It was not too long ago when we found an injured pigeon lying on the pavement across the culling site.

In order to save it, we took it to an animal clinic and were prepared to pay for its treatment.

The vet, Dr Hsu, chose not to charge us for its treatment.

In the end, the pigeon did not survive, but we did our part to try to save a precious life.

What an irony it was to us when the town council decided to engage in the act of mass cilling of the birds.

We would like to urge the authorities to hear our voices and stop the culling.

Lim Lee Nguan

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Kudos, folks!