City corporation has been observing ‘alarming’ rise in pigeon population. Health experts warn of breathing troubles and infections they can bring; Animal activists ask people to manage situation humanely.
BENGALURU: Health experts in the city are concerned about the multiplying pigeon population in the city. Breathing problems, mostly associated to air around us, can worsen because of the birds and infections they carry.
Sarfaraz Khan, BBMP’s joint commissioner for health and solid waste management, refers to the pigeon problem in the city as “alarming”. When on house inspection, the most common problem reported to him this year has been on pigeon menace. “Pigeons have chased out local variety of birds,” says Sarfaraz. “People feeding pigeons are adding more problems as the feed they give out invites rodents as well”.
Archana Rana (name-changed), a 12-year-old from the city suffered from wheezing.
She approached various doctors and paediatricians but was unable to get rid of persistent cough. On approaching Dr Srikanata J T, a pulmonologist at Apollo Hospital, the source of her problem was identified as pigeons since she loved feeding them everyday. “It was her hobby to feed the pigeons and that became detrimental to her health,” says Srikanta. “We told the child to give that up and educated her about the infections they carry. She agreed to it and it has been six months now, she is well and no signs of uncomfortable breathing,” adds Srikanta.
Agents of over 100 diseases
The National Centre for Biotechnology Information in the US reported 176 documented transmission of illness from pigeons to humans from 1941 to 2003. In 2016, a veterinary microbiologist from Karnataka Veterinary Animals and Fisheries University reported as many as 60 types of diseases in pigeon droppings.
“Pigeon feathers and droppings are extremely allergic and causes significant cases of pulmonary diseases including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, hypersensitive lung diseases and oxygen deprivation in blood,” says Dr Srikanta. Most vulnerable to the infections are the patients who are on medication, adds the doctor.
Another pulmonologist from Columbia Asia hospital opines that that health hazard caused by pigeons used to be great public health worry in Mumbai. “Now that there are many high rise buildings in Bengaluru and we see increasing respiratory problems reported, I can estimate 5 per cent is because of growing number of pigeons,” says Dr Ramesh B R.
Divided on ethics
One of the main reasons for the increase of feral pigeons is the availability of food and its ability to adapt and breed in the urban surroundings. Spokesperson from Avian and Reptile Rehabilitation Centre agrees that pigeons are a cause of worry but at the same time the subject is ethical. “Overpopulation is a growing concern but at the same time lack of compassion is not humane,” says the spokesperson who does not want to be named. “Out of all the animal rescue organisations, there isn’t one that caters to pigeons,” says the spokesperson.
What can you do to deal with this humanely?
1) Experts say the first step is to avoid feeding pigeons
2) If you constantly have fed them and they know the grounds then you ought to stop. This can be done by spreading something bitter on their usual place so that they stop coming. This way the city can sustain as much as its capacity.
3) Owners of high-rise apartments should check for pigeons building nests at the place and drive them away. There are professional bird control services available.
4) Turning on the air conditioner with electrostatic filter helps minimize 2.5 microns of PM which reduces the allergy producing pigeon’s infection.
5) Windows, specially of high-rise apartments should be shut.
6) Their droppings must be cleaned using gloves and masks.