Pigeon fanciers are furious over the mass shooting of hundreds of birds by contract killers at London Tube stations. Snipers shot 655 pigeons in 123 culls at Transport for London sites in the year to March, according to bird experts.
Disturbing images and practices
A photo appears to show a worker in a hi-vis uniform holding a rifle to target birds in underground stations. Another seemed to show a worker with their boot on a bleeding pigeon at Stanmore station in north-west London.
Culls took place during breeding season despite advice by Natural England which emphasised 'avoiding lethal control' at that time, according to Manchester Pigeon Rehab. Birds that got trapped in netting were often shot instead of being freed.
Criticism and calls for change
The body blasted Transport for London for failing to explore non-lethal methods to stop birds being harmed. It alleged killings often took place between 12am and 5am and some birds did not die instantly after being shot. The group claimed it had reports of pigeons fleeing with serious injuries.
In August a worker said one was shot at a Ruislip depot but escaped through open doors. "Despite best efforts it couldn't be located," they added.
A spokesman for the pigeon rehab group said: "We believe Transport for London should immediately end lethal control in favour of habitat modification, humane deterrents and other non-lethal management measures. In some circumstances this may also mean accepting that wildlife will continue to exist in shared urban spaces. Modern feral pigeons descended from birds that were once domesticated by humans where they carried our messages and fought in our wars."
Legal and official response
Environmental campaigners reported some of the killings as crimes to British Transport Police, claiming the pigeons experienced unnecessary suffering. Transport for London reportedly deploys 'humane bird dispatchers' and has guidance documents on how to control 'pest bird species'. Measures are designed to ensure the transport giant complies with health and safety standards while avoiding animal cruelty.
A Transport for London spokesman said they take avoiding animal cruelty 'very seriously' but said they have 'a duty of care' to maintain a 'safe, clean environment'.
