"Pigeon war" in Venice continues
St. Brand Square in Venice can stay without one of its main attractions – pigeons. The mayor of Massimo Kachchanari achieved through the court recognition of a legitimate decision on the closure of 19 shops in which all over the euro could buy grain cures and feed birds.
For many years in a row, pigeon flocks met tourists, barely moored to the shore near the square. The feeding of pigeons was for the guests of Venice as a mandatory ritual, as a walk through the channels on the gondola, and the well-widths of Sizari were considered an unofficial, but very cute symbol of the pearl of the Adriatic. This, however, resolutely do not agree with local authorities who claim that pigeons pose a threat to health, are the source of dissemination of infection, damage the historical monuments of the city.
The struggle of the authorities of Venice with pigeons began long ago, but did not bring visible results yet. City Council has repeatedly tried to reduce the number of individuals reached 40 thousand. However, the methods of dealing with actively growing bird livestock caused a stormy controversy, since they included such merciless measures like birds of birds with networks and forced "expulsion" from the habitability. "The city council is trying to remove pigeons from the square with cruel ways, killing them, for what children are watching", – The representative of the Organization for the Protection of Animal Kristina Romport. "Every year 20 thousand pigeons die, their calves cost 850 thousand euros. This is an ineffective method against which many scientists are opposed, as the surviving pigeons breed even more actively, finding new places for the proceeding", – She added.
Activists of animal protection organizations have already spent several protests, the last demonstration took place after the St. Mark Square came into operation a ban on the sale of pigeon feed and was confiscated about 30 kilograms of grain. Birds began to starve. But now it is threatened to declare a hunger strike and shopkeepers – in protest against the ban on the feeding of the feathers, which allowed them to earn themselves on a piece of bread. Grain merchants demand a compensation in the amount of 150 euros per day, which they saw for their work, and licenses to trade souvenirs.
Action counter "Shadow murder and torment hunger" Supported numerous tourists. Children were especially active. "Pigeons of centuries lived in Venice, they have already entered the history of this city, they represent its tradition and are full of its inhabitants. Inhumanly, unworthy of civilization to starve birds hunger", – Kristina Romport said.
However, the most local residents do not agree with the Yellow Protector of Animals. According to ancient legend, the pigeons were brought to Venice as a gift to the wife of a dog from the island of Cyprus. But despite the fact that the Venetians are accustomed to the huge bird flocks on the square, they are much less reverent and to the pigeons themselves, and their feeds to the sellers. According to the city hall, each resident of Venice, the pigeons cost 275 euros per year, which go to clean the miserable litters of monuments and cleaning the area. Some experts accuse birds in the fact that their excrement allegedly lead to the destruction of bridges and even. In the rise of water in the lagoon, which leads to the flooding of St. Mark’s Square.
Shortly speaking, "Pigeon war" in Venice continues, and while there is no winner. But there are losers – these are lovers who come from all over the world to finish their union by marriage in one of the most romantic cities of the planet. To avoid attracting additional flocks of pigeons in Venice for several months there is a ban on the spread of rice over newlyweds when leaving the church – for happiness, as it is considered in Italy. So, another beautiful tradition has become less.
