GLA SET TO SLAUGHTER TRAFALGAR SQUARE PIGEONS
SAFE has learned that the Greater London Authority (GLA) has plans to carry out extensive culls of pigeons in Trafalgar Square in an effort to achieve ‘zero pigeons’. John Duffy of the Mayors Office confirmed to PICAS that culling is now the only method of control that they are considering and that they will cull every day of every week, if necessary, to rid Trafalgar Square of pigeons.
John Duffy rejected out of hand proposals to implement a humane and effective control regime for Trafalgar Square, preferring to use a method of control (culling) that is scientifically proven to increase pigeon numbers. This is yet another chapter in the regime of cruelty inflicted on the pigeons in Trafalgar Square by The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. When the Mayor removed the pigeon feed seller, Bernard Raynor, from Trafalgar Square in October 2000, acting against expert advice, several thousand pigeons starved to death.
After the deaths of thousands of pigeons in 2000/2001 by starvation we had thought he would have realised that killing, by whatever means, is ineffective. He has obviously not learned his lesson. Sadly it is the pigeons who have suffered, not The Mayor. This is not the ‘Cruelty Free London’ that Ken Livingstone promised voters during his campaign to be elected Mayor".
RSPCA SUPPORTS PIGEON CULL . . .
We have learned that, at a recent RSPCA AGM, held in London on 29th June, 2002, comments were made by Rob Atkinson of the RSPCA, concerning the possible culling of the Trafalgar Square pigeon population by Ken Livingstone. The Chair of the AGM was asked, by a lady attending the conference, whether the RSPCA was aware of plans by the GLA to seriously consider a mass cull of the Trafalgar Square pigeon population. The Chair asked Rob Atkinson, of the RSPCA's Wildlife Division, to answer the question. Atkinson spoke for about 10 minutes but ended by telling the conference that he (we assume this means the RSPCA) would support a cull of ALL pigeons in Trafalgar Square if the GLA planned to go ahead with this type of control operation. These comments made by Atkinson could, and very probably will, put advances in humane bird control back 20-30 years. If the RSPCA decide to back Atkinson and publicly approve the mass culling of pigeons (and it will not stop at pigeons) all the achievements made by PICAS and other advisory/campaigning bodies will count for nothing. Those that wish to use culling as an option will simply justify their actions by quoting the RSPCA. In the past, although the RSPCA have sat on the fence over the issue of culling, they have at least supported 'alternatives' to culling, certainly in most cases. By suggesting that they (the RSPCA) will support a mass cull in Trafalgar Square, they have given the green light to all those local authorities across the UK that have historically shied away from culling due to the potential bad publicity and confrontations with animal welfare bodies. It will not stop at local authorities either - many commercial organisations avoid the use of lethal control for the same reasons. Needless to say, if the GLA are aware of Atkinson's comments we can say goodbye to the pigeon population in Trafalgar Square.
Please try and find time to email Atkinson and copy your email to Arthur Lindley, Director of Science at the RSPCA. Thank you.
Rob Atkinson: [email protected] Arthur Lindley: [email protected]
November 2002 Update . . .
The GLA has brought in a pest control company to fly a hawk in the Square at £90+ an hour and the hawk is ripping pigeons to bits in front of the horrified onlookers.
People that are calling us are telling us that there is blood and feathers everywhere. It is pointless to contact the GLA through the normal channels as they never respond but as the GLA have recently appointed an Animal Protection Officer (Sally Ann Hamilton) it may be worth contacting her as it is her job to ensure that wildlife in London does not suffer unnecessarily.
Hamilton is featured in this month's Outrage mag from Animal Aid. She was clearly not interested in the plight of the pigeons even though she was given graphic details of how the pigeons were being killed and how long it was taking for them to die (up to an hour whilst being plucked and eaten alive).
Another campaigner phoned her on the issue and Hamilton put the phone down on her. Callers have told us that Heritage Wardens and the hawk's handler were all enjoying the spectacle of the pigeons being killed yesterday and were seen laughing as pigeons were attacked. Potential Al Qaida members at work maybe?
Please e-mail Hamilton, phoning is a waste of time. Sally Ann Hamilton: [email protected]
SAFE has written to Sally Ann Hamilton. Please click here to read the e-mail together with the reply.
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