Feeding pigeons can kill you

Thanks to the overzealousness of people, the pigeon population in Hyderabad has grown multifold but the act of kindness is proving too costly for them

Feeding the endearing pigeons is considered as an act of kindness by most communities but this act of compassion is turning into a deathtrap. On an average about 200 cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, one of the several forms of Pulmonary Fibrosis, are reported every month.

What is worrisome is the fact that there is no cure and the patient’s life could only be extended. Close proximity to birds causes hypersensitivity pneumonitis. According to estimates, there are more than 80,000 pigeons in the city. People feed the birds with copious amounts of grain at Nampally, Tank Bund, Peerzadiguda, Sindhi Colony, Gudimalkapur and several other areas in the city.

Pigeons also stay put in some residential colonies where enclosures are built for the birds. For instance, thousands of birds are seen inside a residential cum commercial complex at Koti near Andhra Bank.Dr Vijay Kumar Ratnavelu, Pulmonologist at Yashoda Hospital, says, “The cases may be acute to chronic.

The disease is characterized by dry cough, breathlessness and fever. People living in close proximity to pigeons are more susceptible.” He further adds, “The gravity of the problem is such that in some cases we advise people to relocate if possible even to other cities.”Pigeon droppings, feathers and the dust caused by the birds is enough to afflict people with zoonoses.

Dr K Narasimhulu, Professor of Medicine and Swine Flu specialist, says, “There is a need to educate people to wear mask while feeding as people may be affected by allergic bronchitis.” While religious sentiments take the upper hand, rationality takes a beating. Aashish Pittie of the Bird Watchers Society of Andhra Pradesh argues,

“Feeding pigeons in public places should be a punishable offence as is the case in several cities across the world such as Trafalgar Square in London, San Francisco, Venice, Albuquerque, New Jersey, Ontario and other cities.” He further adds, “We worship this symbol of peace, pandering to a mere icon and ignore the message in real life situations. The time has come to stop feeding pigeons and let them forage for themselves as it should be.”

Rationality has seldom been religion’s strength but it seems the time has come for common sense to prevail over beliefs. The act of piety is proving to be too costly as people once afflicted suffer as long as they live. The only way to curb the problem is to restrict the birds population and that could be done just be stopping to feed them. Aashish Pittie says, “The population would automatically drop and they would disperse to wider geographical area.

By:T P Venu