Tourists heading to Tenerife have been warned to watch what they do in public after two residents were fined over 1,000 (£855). The two residents were slapped with the fine after feeding pigeons in public areas of the Canary Island.
According to Canarian Weekly, feeding pigeons in public “violates” the Municipal Ordinance regulating the Protection and Ownership of Animals in Santa Cruz. The pair were given a fine of 1,000 each by the Environmental Sustainability and Public Services department of the Santa Cruz Council.
People who commit the ‘offence’ can be punished with a fine of up to 1,500 (£1,282.78). Jose Manuel Bermudez, the Mayor of Santa Cruz, said: “Providing food, of any kind, to any animal found in public places is a serious offence and a lack of respect for other citizens. Therefore, these residents must be penalised to prevent it from happening again, as these acts pose serious public health problems and deteriorate our heritage.”
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Carlos Tarife, a councillor for the Environmental department, explained the council will “continue to penalise” anyone who feeds pigeons in the capital of Santa Cruz. He said the act contributes to the “uncontrolled growth” of the number of pigeons in the area and the transmission of diseases such as histoplasmosis, salmonellosis, and cryptococcosis.
He told Canarian Weekly: “We will continue to penalise anyone who feeds pigeons in Santa Cruz, a practice that not only leads to uncontrolled growth in the number of these specimens but can also transmit diseases such as histoplasmosis, salmonellosis, and cryptococcosis, as well as carrying bedbugs and ticks, causing, through their excrement and nesting, serious damage to architectural and urban furniture, with the consequent economic impact on public funds.”
Tarife explained the council has gone to great lengths to control the number of pigeons in the area, and that feeding them can also lead to attracting vermin such as rats or cockroaches to the area. The Santa Cruz Council captures between 700 and 1,000 pigeons per month in traps and nets.
In the last week, they have tested the use of a specially trained hawk in strategic areas, such as Plaza de Espana or Parque Garcia Sanabria, to prevent the pigeons from reproducing, as studies show they are nervous when a bird of prey is around.
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