Wight Nature

Just recently I posted a news article on FB about meat consumption in the UK and its impact on the environment, suggesting that dairy and meat industry and its consumers are having a similar impact on our environment than the use of cars. To be honest, I didn't expect a lot of responses, but I did hope that people would read the article and think about the consequences of their way of life. Surprisingly, I did get a reply, from a person, who I would regard as well educated. The comment made by this person referred to another article about pets and their environmental impact compared to cars and mobile phones. The reply, apart from some subtle racist undertone, suggested that we have got the choice to decide what to do, which is a statement I can agree with in principal. Most of humans beings we regard as capable to make that decision, a decision we don't allow animals to make. Besides being a teacher, this person is dedicating his spare time to the rescue of marine mammals. On the other hand, according to some of other FB posts, the same person is almost worshipping meat and dairy and therefore supporting the devastating impact of this cruel industry.  This seems to be quite a bit of hippocracy, doesn't it? Assuming a little bit of consciousness, responsibility and intelligence, actually, one can not avoid to conclude, that there is no choice at all, other than to make this conscious decision to convert the 'standard' mainstream diet into a 'healthier' one, which would benefit both, the person concerned and the environment. This conclusion is actually even more logical, if one considers the already high and steadily rising figures of obesity and related diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiac diseases and stroke. I do accept the argument, or should I better call this lack of responsibility, to make a choice, which one could also call a kind of freedom. But then, why would the rest of the society has to pay for this choice, the choice of putting themselves and others at risk. I think this kind of 'antisocial' behaviour should not be encouraged, it should be rather recognised and the person concerned should also be given the opportunity to take over a bigger share of the financial burden the rest of the society has otherwise to carry on his or her behalf. Yes, there is a choice, but only if you are not harming others, meaning humans and animals. Anything else is just arrogant avoidable behaviour feeding the greed of an ever growing industry, which is inflicting cruelty to sentient beings, meaning again humans and animals.

This is an extract from our official response to local media and councillors, as we thought and hoped, that councillors and the  public might be interested in our comments and suggestions made below in response to the Isle of Wight County Press article about the use of hawks to control pigeons in Ventnor (18/12/2011). 

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/hawks-to-take-on-pigeons-42215.aspx

To use tax payers money in the most efficient way, and to find a humane and sustainable solution for the pigeon problem in Ventnor, we would like to suggest to get guidance from renowned experts to come up with a humane solution about how to deal with the man made pigeon problem in Ventnor, which is mainly caused by lost birds of Pigeon fanciers and the bad habit of wasting and discarding food everywhere. All the answers are readily available on the websites of organisations like Animal Aid and world leading expert PiCAS UK Limited (Pigeon Control Advisory Service), the latter being based just across the Solent in Gosport, Hampshire.

http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/AA/HOME/

http://www.picasuk.com/

First of all, animals have the same value as a living creature as human. Thus, we should respect their right to live on the earth. Ventnor mayor, Cllr Steve Stubbings’ County Press photograph would have been certainly more impressive, if he were holding a Feral pigeon rather than a non-native captivity bred Harris Hawk on this arm, as pictured in the County Press from the 18th December 2011. Flying birds of prey like Harris Hawks to control gulls and pigeons is a waste of time and money. Here are some bits of information useful to know in this context, extracted from the PiCAS UK Limited website.

“Furthermore, most contractors use Harris Hawks as the favoured control option. The Harris Hawk is not the natural predator of the pigeon and is much slower in flight and therefore the bird poses no threat whatsoever. The Harris Hawk will, however, occasionally catch a juvenile, sick or injured pigeon during a control operation (as depicted below in Norwich City centre) but this is rare.  A Harris Hawk will never catch or deter a fit and healthy adult pigeon.” (Source: PiCAS UK Limited)

“Most of the companies offering this service are simply falconers that are jumping on the pest control bandwagon, hoping to make a quick and easy profit.” (Source: PiCAS UK Limited)

“A number of companies in the UK offer this service where birds of prey are flown in or around a specific building or site, on a regular basis and the client is told that the resident pigeon flock will move elsewhere to roost. In most cases the client is also told that an extensive culling operation is necessary in order to reduce pigeon numbers prior to flying a bird of prey. The theory is that once bird numbers reduce to an acceptable level (as a result of culling) the bird of prey will then be flown and will establish a territory, thereby ensuring that the target species does not re-occupy the area. In practice it is the culling operation that reduces pigeon numbers on the site (in the very short-term) and the flying of a bird of prey has no affect whatsoever on the surviving flock. The client, however, sees an initial reduction in pigeon numbers (as a result of the culling operation) and assumes that the £90-£150 per hour that they are being charged for flying the bird of prey is money well spent. However, pigeon numbers on the site then quickly increase above and beyond the pre-cull figure (normally within 4-6 weeks) and the client realises that the bird of prey is having little or no effect. Far from seeing a reduction in pigeon numbers they actually see an increase. This is because culling as a method of pigeon control has been scientifically proven to increase, not reduce, pigeon flock size. The client has simply been sold two very expensive and ineffective services.” (Source: PiCAS UK Limited)

So, is there a better solution? Yes, there is, simply by using a more holistic approach consisting of scientific background information and common sense. The idea is not new, but humane, efficient, sustainable, cost-effective and user friendly. It was the PiCAS Group again, who have pioneered the use of artificial breeding facilities as a means of controlling and reducing pigeon flock size.

“The basic principal of the system is to provide a centralised feeding area where the public feeding of pigeons is allowed in an effort to stop the random feeding of pigeons taking place throughout a town or city centre. Once the feeding facility has been provided a public information programme will be initiated designed to educate the public about the problems associated with feeding pigeons and the advantages to both pigeons and property owners of feeding exclusively in a centralised feeding facility. Once a feeding area is opened for public access, a perching facility would be provided above or adjacent to the feeding area and upon which pigeons would perch during the daytime whilst exploiting food provided within the area. This would ensure that pigeons using the feeding facility did not perch on buildings in the vicinity thereby causing soiling problems for property owners. Alternatively, if a reduction in pigeon numbers is required, a dovecote facility may be provided which will not only provide pigeons with a daytime perch but also with an overnight roosting and breeding facility where flock size can be controlled by birth control. This is achieved by removing eggs, as laid, from the dovecote and replacing them with dummy eggs. This method of control will dramatically reduce pigeon flock size and is cheap and simple to maintain.” (Source: PiCAS UK Limited)

However, as suggested by Cllr Steve Stubbings, the pigeon flock might move on to Niton, and then the residents of Niton might have to face a similar problem. We hope that the information provided might prove useful for your decision making. Perhaps, as we are sure, that pigeons can cause similar issues in other island towns, Ventnor could become the island's reference site showcasing how to deal humanely and cost effectively with this kind of problem. Many thanks for your help.

It doesn't take long to get emotionally attached to an animal you are about to rescue. Nor does it take long for the animal to get bonded to the rescuer, to gain trust and hope. However, in this situation, the hardest part of any interspecies interaction is to accept the fact, that we humans are still unable to communicate with other species sufficiently other than through gestures, the calming sound of the voice, a warm glance of the eyes or through a gentle touch. How do you tell somebody without words, that he or she will now fall asleep, forever, as there is no other way out? How do you tell this all to a child? 

The animal we tried to rescue was a four to five year old female Harbour porpoise, who beached itself a second time, after being put back into the sea once before we arrived. It was obvious, the animal was in distress, in pain, frightened and disorientated. The first, most crucial rescue step was it, to move the animal onto an air mattress to get her in a comfortable position, and secondly, to administer pain relief and prophylactically antibiotics. One medic was permanently at her bedside, in uninterrupted physical contact with the animal. It was obvious and moving at the same time, as soon as this key person moved away from the animal, it became distressed and agitated.

Most of the time the animal kept the eyes closed. It only opened its eyes once or twice. But when it did so, it did look straight into mine. And there it was, the instant proof, the instant knowledge. Without any doubt, these were the eyes of an intelligent being, exploring my eyes and thoughts, asking me for help, help which I couldn't provide the way I wanted, making me feel helpless. We tried hard, we brought the Harbour porpoise back into the water, on a tarpaulin, rocking her gently from one side to the other to give her a chance to regain her equilibrium. After a short while it became clear though, that it wouldn't work, as the animals condition deteriorated quickly. She became very frightened and agitated, and she did relax only as we bedded her quickly back onto the air bed. This was her last chance gone, before we had no other choice than to ask the vet to inject the lethal dose to end the suffering of a very young life.

She opened her eyes one more time, took a last breath, and never woke up again. It didn't took long to get attached to this beautiful being, after having spent only a few moments in life together, moments I will never forget.