SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 23rd June (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has penalised a city resident with a fine of 2,250 euros for feeding pigeons in public areas, breaching the Municipal Ordinance that regulates the Protection and Ownership of Animals. This action is considered a significant administrative violation that can result in fines of up to 3,000 euros.
Initially set at 1,500 euros, this fine was increased due to multiple similar infringements committed by the resident within a year. The incidents leading to the penalty occurred between San Francisco Javier and San Juan Bautista streets.
The Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, highlighted that this violation was carried out by a habitual offender who has previously faced penalties for feeding pigeons on the streets and public spaces. He emphasised that the City Council is committed to addressing and penalising these behaviours, which not only contravene municipal regulations but also pose serious public health risks and contribute to the degradation of the city’s assets.
Carlos Tarife, the Councillor for Strategic Planning, Environmental Sustainability, and Public Services, asserted that individuals caught feeding pigeons will continue to be fined due to the associated risks. Such actions contribute to uncontrolled bird populations that can spread diseases, damage architectural heritage and urban infrastructure, leading to financial burdens on public funds, as well as attracting rats and cockroaches.
The City Council of Santa Cruz effectively manages to capture between 700 and 1,000 pigeons monthly through pest control contracts, as well as the installation of cages and nets. Additionally, controlled falcon flights are being conducted in key areas like Plaza de España and García Sanabria Park to instil conditioned responses, inducing discomfort in pigeons and deterring their presence in these locations.
