Thailand acts against feeding of pigeons in public places

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa

BANGKOK, Sept 21 (Bernama) – Visitors to Thailand should take note that feeding pigeons in public places can land you in big trouble as the government has tightened regulations against the practice following mounting concern over health and the birds' rapidly expanding population. 

Those who violate the regulation could be slapped with a 25,000 Baht (about RM3,125) fine or worse, sentenced to three months in jail.

The stern action against feeding pigeons in public places came after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha issued a directive on Wednesday instructing the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and other local councils to ban the practice. 

"The prime minister has instructed all agencies to find measures to clean the areas but the birds must not be harmed," according to the local media which quoted the government spokesman, Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

The public, he said, will not be allowed to feed the birds in public places as a way to reduce the number of pigeons at each spot, while the provincial administrations would be setting aside specific areas for the feeding of the birds.

Officials are worried that the pigeons could be carriers of disease, spread through their droppings, while the birds' rapidly expanding population has become a nuisance to the public.

The local media reported that livestock officials began capturing the birds in Bangkok on Thursday even as people continued feeding the pigeons as news of the latest directive has yet to sink in among the public.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang reportedly said the city doesn't want to enforce the law but merely used the harsh penalties imposed as a warning and for education purposes.

"We just want to use it (the law) to warn and educate the public," he said. City hall officials contended that the best way to control the pigeon population was by not feeding the birds.

Directives have also been issued to 50 districts in Bangkok, instructing them to find ways to reduce the pigeon population in their areas.

-- BERNAMA