| Re: Pigeons at railway stations causing problems Posted by TaplowGreen at 20:39, 24th July 2026 |     |
They're vermin frankly, and I am don't have a problem - although plenty do in the comments to that article.
So I ask the question - why do many see shooting them as an inhumane way of killing when no one has any problem with Halal killing of any animal??
So I ask the question - why do many see shooting them as an inhumane way of killing when no one has any problem with Halal killing of any animal??
I think you'll find a lot of people object to the non stun slaughtering of animals, however they're equally wary of being accused of racism, "Islamophobia" etc which tends to be the unimaginative, yet predictable default response to the airing of such objections with the aim of shutting down the debate.
| Re: Pigeons at railway stations causing problems Posted by ChrisB at 18:46, 24th July 2026 | |
They're vermin frankly, and I am don't have a problem - although plenty do in the comments to that article.
So I ask the question - why do many see shooting them as an inhumane way of killing when no one has any problem with Halal killing of any animal??
| Pigeons at railway stations causing problems Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:59, 24th July 2026 | |
From the BBC:
2,000 pigeons shot with rifles at railway stations
More than 2,000 pigeons have been shot at railway stations and depots across the UK in 16 months, the BBC has found.
Professionals with air rifles shoot the pigeons at night in an effort to prevent droppings becoming slip hazards or causing illness, but critics say the method is inhumane.
Of the stations managed by state-owned companies, York Station recorded 608 birds shot between January 2025 and April of this year - 152 of them on a single day.
The data was sourced under the Freedom of Information Act which does not apply to private companies, so it is possible other stations have culled more and the total is higher than the current figure of 2,019.
LNER was the most prolific train operator with more than 800 birds shot at its stations in the year and four months to March 2026 - three-quarters of those at York Station. "We do implement a number of deterrents and any other measures are as a last resort only," the operator said. "The safety of our customers and colleagues is our number one priority."
It said its higher totals on individual days – 152 on 26 January last year, and 97 on 21 February this year – were a result of large gaps between cullings.
Network Rail had 600 pigeons killed across Bristol Temple Meads, London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley stations.
South Western Railway ordered the shooting of 250, Transport for London had 147, and Northern had 143.
Scotrail and c2c did not kill pigeons at any of their stations.
(BBC article continues)
More than 2,000 pigeons have been shot at railway stations and depots across the UK in 16 months, the BBC has found.
Professionals with air rifles shoot the pigeons at night in an effort to prevent droppings becoming slip hazards or causing illness, but critics say the method is inhumane.
Of the stations managed by state-owned companies, York Station recorded 608 birds shot between January 2025 and April of this year - 152 of them on a single day.
The data was sourced under the Freedom of Information Act which does not apply to private companies, so it is possible other stations have culled more and the total is higher than the current figure of 2,019.
LNER was the most prolific train operator with more than 800 birds shot at its stations in the year and four months to March 2026 - three-quarters of those at York Station. "We do implement a number of deterrents and any other measures are as a last resort only," the operator said. "The safety of our customers and colleagues is our number one priority."
It said its higher totals on individual days – 152 on 26 January last year, and 97 on 21 February this year – were a result of large gaps between cullings.
Network Rail had 600 pigeons killed across Bristol Temple Meads, London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley stations.
South Western Railway ordered the shooting of 250, Transport for London had 147, and Northern had 143.
Scotrail and c2c did not kill pigeons at any of their stations.
(BBC article continues)
