Yes we are being cruel, by changing the habits of Pigeons; almost force feeding them, leading to Hyderabad’s 80,000 pigeon population being on the brink of Diabetes and Death. They say either you are pregnant or not pregnant (no half measures here). Similarly, all these pre-diabetic people better be aware they are on the brink of being diabetic and only diet and exercise can keep you on the edge forever.
However, we insist on feeding pigeons at every corner so that they just have to be perched on the nearest electric pole and strut around and get fed. No exercise, no diet, no foraging for food and no joy of work for them. No challenges, no time pass literally and they are bored to tears and now have to fight diabetes as well.
Isn’t there a better way? Countries around the world have made feeding of pigeons illegal. In fact it is illegal to kill pigeons In India but we Indians have our own methods of killing people — out of kindness! To quote Dag Hammershold who wrote the most beautiful book Markings: ‘It is easy enough to be nice to all… out of lack of character.’
We all want to be loved and be popular everywhere even though we are not Ice Cream! There is at least a partial solution to the problem. We have encouraged and allowed the feral pigeon to expand its populations without bounds.
Stores actually sell sub-standard grains and brand them Pigeon Feed which we piously buy and scatter at in public places, on rooftops, and even in places of worship (we are secular while feeding pigeons).
Feeding of pigeons in public places is a punishable offence (by imposing fines) in Trafalgar Square, London, where the pigeon population has dwindled from 38000 to 5 resident pigeons. It is also an offence in several other cities, including San Francisco, Venice, Albuquerque, New Jersey and Ontario.
It is unfairly assumed that pigeons are the cause of Pulmonary Fibrosis. There are nearly 150 other identified causes for Pulmonary Fibrosis, related in one way or another largely to mouldy substances, or the presence of dust in various forms. Contaminated water, extremely humid work conditions, and various chemicals are also suspect. Given this variety of causes, implicating the pigeon is unfair —and indeed, seem a bit extreme to some people.
Yet, it cannot be denied that the pigeon is one of the most common offenders in the propagation of Pulmonary Fibrosis, and doctors find it difficult to ignore such a patently obvious etiological agent — especially one that can be ‘eliminated’ easily.
The remedy is simple. Let us resolve to stop feeding pigeons. Without food from humans, the pigeon population will resume foraging for food, get exercise, and will gradually thin out, and disperse into an increasingly wider geographical area.
The processes of nature will take over, forcing them to forage for themselves — as it should be and we can be proud of the SPCP.
(Santha John is founder, director Coachlifemail: santha.john@coachlife. asiawww.coachlife.asia)
