“They’re like chicken” – M’sian Prof Suggests Cooking & Eating Pigeons to Solve Their Overpopulation

Pigeons are harmless but not when they fill the ground with their excretes, which may contain bacteria and viruses that can cause up to 60 different diseases, according to the National Institutes of Health (NHI). 

Some areas in Penang are “overpopulated with pigeons” and despite City Council’s efforts to catch them, pigeons continue to breed and fly. What do you do when your methods have been proven unfruitful? A Malaysian professor from Salford University, England recently suggested Malaysians to…

Cook and eat pigeons!

Typically, pigeons in Penang are caught by City Council officers and burned.

In an interview, Professor Wong, who is also the owner of the Penang Bird Park said the efforts to catch pigeons are considered “a wasted effort”, and said cooking and eating pigeons might solve the issue. Professor Wong, who has been studying birds for 40 years said,

“If we can start to accept pigeons as part of our meals today, the numbers of pigeons in Penang will be lower in the future.”

According to the City Council, in 2023 alone, they managed to capture 6,606 pigeons, and the number continuously went up over the past few years.

In 2018, Penang City Council caught 3,419 pigeons.

To those who are worried about having pigeons on your menu, Professor Wong assures the public pigeons are safe to be eaten. Unlike crows, pigeons are “picky” in what they eat, and even if they go through the trash, they only pick what they like to eat.

“Don’t worry about eating pigeons. They’re much cleaner than crows. Pigeons and chickens are the same kind of birds.”

Professor Wong also suggested another idea – distribute the caught pigeons for people to try.

He added that the pigeons’ source of food also comes from the generous heart of the people who feed pigeons publicly by throwing food on the ground. This cause the flock of pigeons to “gather” at the place for their feast.

In the meantime, the City Council also urged the public to STOP feeding pigeons.

“Throwing food on the ground for the pigeons is similar to littering, which can be compounded up to RM250.”

@kwongwah1910

槟岛的鸽子越繁殖越多，槟岛市政厅仅仅去年就捉捕了6000只鸽子，并以焚烧方式处理。惟研究鸟类40多年的Salford大学博士黄宏振却指这种处理方式太“浪费”了，并大胆建议民众：”把这些鸽子煮来吃！” 光华日报 光华报动 详情内容点击附随链接 BeritaDiTiktok NewsAtTiktok TikTok新闻 #TrendingNewsMalaysia

♬ 原声 – Kwong Wah Yit Poh光華日报 – Kwong Wah Yit Poh光華日报

What do you say about pigeons as part of your family menu?

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