The City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, under the department of Strategic Planning, Environmental Sustainability and Public Services, has imposed a penalty of 2,250 Euros on a city resident for feeding the pigeons on public streets, thus violating the Municipal Ordinance that regulates the Protection and Ownership of Animals in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This action is considered a serious administrative offence that could result in a fine of up to 3,000 Euros.
Normally, the fine is set at 1,500 Euros, but it increases when multiple violations of a similar nature occur within a year. In this case, the incidents that led to the resident’s penalty took place between San Francisco Javier and San Juan Bautista streets.
Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, stated that “this is a severe violation committed by a city resident who has previously been penalised for feeding pigeons on the streets and in public areas. He added that “the City Council remains committed to combating and penalising these actions, as they not only contravene municipal regulations but also pose significant public health risks and contribute to the deterioration of our urban heritage.”
Speaking on the matter, Councilor for Strategic Planning, Environmental Sustainability and Public Services, Carlos Tarife, mentioned that “we will continue to penalise individuals who feed pigeons, as these practices contribute to the uncontrolled proliferation of birds that can transmit various diseases and cause significant damage to architectural heritage and urban infrastructure, leading to financial implications for public funds, and may even attract rats and cockroaches.”
It is worth noting that the City Council, through its pest control measures and the installation of cages and nets, manages to capture between 700 and 1,000 pigeons per month. Additionally, controlled falcon flights are conducted in key locations such as Plaza de España or García Sanabria Park to induce a conditioned reflex, instilling a sense of unease regarding reproduction and inhabiting these areas.
