Putting Pigeons on the Pill

The rise in the population of Mumbai’s pigeons and its ill effects on the civic hygiene of the city and respiratory health of human residents is an issue that has long been a matter of concern. For some, feeding pigeons is akin to a religious experience, and this often complicates efforts to address the problem. The city’s civic body, which for years has been inundated with calls to do something about the pigeon menace, finally has a radical move under consideration. It wants to put the pigeons on contraceptive pills. According to Shiv Sena corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar, who came up with this idea at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation recently, birth control pills can be mixed with the feed of pigeons at various kabutarkhanas in the city. Such a drug for birds, OvoControl, already exists and is currently being used in some parts of Italy and Spain to tackle the increase in the population of pigeons there.

Ghosalkar says the city’s corporators could undertake a study tour to these countries if necessary. According to him, despite the lifespan of urban pigeons being around two to three years, just five mating pairs can produce as many as 400 pigeons in two years.

“Pigeons have all sorts of organisms in them,” he says, explaining the rationale, “They are not hunted by any other birds. Besides, their droppings are harmful and cause respiratory problems. Pigeons suffer from diseases which are contagious and spread to human beings.”

What works in favour of such a proposal is that it is non-lethal in nature. Jussabai Gehlot, who feeds pigeons at a kabutarkhana close to the city’s Dadar railway station, says, “If it does not harm the birds, I support it. Yes, the pigeon population has increased a lot. My religion asks me to feed pigeons, so I do it.” The proposal has found the support of several corporators and will now be taken up by other departments for closer scrutiny.

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