Pigeons in the trap: Animal welfare activists raise the alarm in Offenbach!

Pigeons in the trap: Animal welfare activists raise the alarm in Offenbach!

in Offenbach, numerous city pigeons have settled under the bridges, which are now in a delicate location. The Autobahngesellschaft plans a comprehensive building cleaning, which, however, could lead to a controversial procedure. During the cleaning measures, grids of the Kaiserlebrücke were closed, which caused more than 30 pigeons to be locked up in the cavities without access to food.

animal rights activist Sarina Römer watched a pigeon with a concerned look that tried desperately to reach her partner. The pigeons use the cavities under the bridge as their nesting places to breed and withdraw there. This raises questions about dealing with these protected animals, since catching and killing city pigeons is legally problematic and is only allowed under certain conditions.

violent criticism of the cleaning measures

The cleaning company has closed the columns between the grids with cable ties and wire mesh, which is criticized by some animal rights activists. Gudrun Stürmer, also animal rights activist, describes the acoban society's approach as an "absolute no-go". It accuses the person responsible to have intentionally locked up the pigeons, but this is rejected by the motorway company. This emphasizes that in two places on the bridge can continue to be flown in and out.

The city of Offenbach sees no violations of the Animal Welfare Act in this context. Around 30 pigeons have already been freed from the bridge by committed animal rights activists, with some references to discovered destroyed nests. The statements of strikers and other animal rights activists show how concerned them are about the future of the pigeons, since the highway company plans to permanently close all access to the interior of the bridge to prevent damage caused by pigeon.

legal status of the city pigeons

The problem is also complicated by the legal status of the city pigeons. These birds, often referred to as "rats of the air", do not fall under the hunting law and are protected by the Federal Agreement Protection Ordinance. According to the Federal Institute for Health Consumer Protection and Veterinary Medicine, overgrown house pigeons are not classified as mandatory health pests. There are specific criteria for the classification as such that must be fulfilled, such as contact with food or uncontrolled distribution near inhabited areas.

While cleaning under the bridge apparently appears important for the safety and preservation of the building, animal welfare associations warn that milder methods should be used to control the pigeon population. In many cases, the use of fatal measures is legally questionable, and it is advisable to re -re -use to animal protection solutions.

The topic of city pigeons is another example of the complex interactions between urban life, animal welfare and legal framework. Animal rights activists require responsible and humane inventory regulation, while authorities often have to weigh between security and animal welfare.