KUCHING: There have been no mass gatherings of feral pigeons in areas under the jurisdiction of Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS).
Council chairman Datuk Peter Minos hoped that it would be maintained that way.
He said that however if these pigeons which have been said to be carrying diseases and would endanger people’s health were true, then maybe the experts could do something about it on health grounds.
“For some people, they like to keep and rear fish, rabbits, cats, dogs or pigeons as pets. Asking them to dispose of their pets is not very easy.
“I say the medical people can do it on the reason of keeping and maintaining public health. If we (local councils) are directed to do it, we will oblige,” he said.
Last Saturday, Kuching City South Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng called on the public not to rear or buy pigeons for the purpose of releasing them.
He said that at the moment there were five locations in Kuching found to have hundreds of pigeons.
Wee also warned that the birds’ droppings could be harmful to people’s health.
According to Mayo Clinic, breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis — a type of lung infection.
Mayor Clinic also stated that soil contaminated by bird or bat droppings also can spread histoplasmosis.
The symptoms are fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dry cough, chest discomfort and fatigue.
According to Mayo Clinic, in severe cases of histoplasmosis, called disseminated histoplasmosis, it can affect any part of the body and if untreated, can be fatal.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, states that protected species of birds include Christmas frigate, all herons, egrets and bitterns; storks; falcons; scrub fowl, partridges and pheasants, waders; metallic pigeon; Nicobar pigeon, owls, swiftlets, kingfishers, woodpeckers, Asian paradise fly-catcher; grackle or hill myna; parrots and parakeets and white-rumped shama.
For these protected species, the public will need to apply a permit if they intend to keep them.
Whereas, the totally protected species of birds under the same ordinance include argus pheasant; bulwer’s pheasant, blank-naped tern; bridled/brown-winged term; phalaropes, imperial pigeons, silvery (grey) wood pigeon, white-crowned hornbill; bushy-crested hornbill; wrinkled hornbill; Asian black hornbill; oriental pied hornbill; rhinoceros hornbill; helmeted hornbill, pittas; straw-headed bulbul; and Borneon bristlehead.
For these totally protected species, the public are not allowed to rear or keep them.
