EFFORTS to keep feral pigeon numbers under control in Seberang Perai are becoming increasingly challenging as the birds have learned to avoid animal control officers.
Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said the long-standing problem had worsened over the past four years, raising concerns over public health risks associated with pigeon droppings.
“The pigeons have learned to avoid humans who approach too close while wielding large nets,” he said.
Baderul Amin said the main factors contributing to the growing pigeon population were improper waste disposal, which provided a constant food source, and public feeding.
“Feeding pigeons in public areas encourages them to gather at the same locations and contributes to rapid population growth,” he told StarMetro.
Baderul Amin said the council had received multiple complaints about people feeding pigeons, mainly in residential areas.
“Most people do not keep pigeons but have been feeding them for a long time, making it part of the social culture.
“It is not easy to change this behaviour.
“We (MBSP) have a dedicated bird-catching team that operates daily based on public reports.
“Each team consists of about five to six members, including a driver and an officer-in-charge at the scene.
“If a team encounters a hotspot, they can catch dozens of pigeons in one go and even close to a hundred in some spots.
“As pigeons continue to breed and gather, they create noise pollution, fecal pollution, bad odours and the risk of disease transmission,” he said.
To address the problem, he said MBSP relied primarily on netting to capture the birds.
“While some pigeons stay high up and do not easily fly down to forage, others are attracted by bait.
“Based on field observations, the netting method has proven to be effective in reducing pigeon numbers in targeted areas,” he said.
Baderul Amin said MBSP was testing new electronic netting equipment to improve its pigeon control operations.
“The equipment is currently undergoing trials and our officers are still learning to operate it.
“Additional training is needed to ensure it can be used safely and efficiently during future operations.
“Its overall effectiveness is still being evaluated, but if the trials are successful, the equipment is expected to improve the efficiency and safety of our operations,” he said.
Although the council does not have data on pigeon nesting colonies, Baderul Amin said the birds would commonly nest on rooftops and building ledges.
MBSP issues compounds under Section 47(1)(g) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, which prohibits leaving food particles in public places, to discourage public feeding.
“Where applicable, notices are also issued under Section 82 of the Local Government Act 1976,” he said.
The section allows local councils to issue an official notice requiring the responsible person to rectify or clear a verified nuisance within a timeframe.
Beyond enforcement, MBSP conducts Communication, Education and Public Awareness programmes in areas with frequent complaints.
“These initiatives combine public education with enforcement, focusing on addressing the root causes of pigeon infestations, such as illegal waste disposal and the feeding in public areas,” he said.
He added that all pigeons captured by MBSP were disposed off in accordance with the Code of Practice for Animal Welfare (Animal Disposal Activities) issued by the Veterinary Services Department.
“This ensures that animal welfare standards and all relevant guidelines are fully complied with throughout the process,” he said.
