Abandoned by Humans, Forsaken by Nature: The Plight of Pigeons Adaline Benila 4 min read · Oct 22, 2024 -- Listen Share
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In the quiet moments between the buzz of city life and the call of the wild, there lies a heartbreaking truth that few of us consider: the plight of domesticated animals cast back into a world they no longer understand. These animals, once lovingly cared for and nurtured, now find themselves struggling in an environment that has become alien to them. Their survival instincts have faded, and the warmth of human care has long since vanished. What becomes of them?
For centuries, animals have shared our homes, worked by our sides, and given us companionship. But when they are abandoned—whether by circumstance, change in lifestyle, or simply neglect—they face an unforgiving reality: they are no longer equipped to fend for themselves.
Imagine a pigeon once doted on by a family, released into the bustling chaos of an urban jungle. Without the knowledge of how to forage or avoid predators, it is left to rely on scraps from human hands—often unhealthy, processed foods that weaken its body and leave it vulnerable to disease. While we might feed them out of kindness, their growing dependence only deepens their inability to adapt to the wild.
Domesticated animals, whether pigeons, dogs, or farm animals, have lived under our protection for generations. Through selective breeding, we’ve made them gentler, more docile, and easier to live with. But in doing so, we’ve stripped away the very traits they need to survive on their own. A pigeon is not built to roam freely and navigate the harsh wilderness. The wild is no longer home—it’s a battleground they aren’t equipped to fight in.
Press enter or click to view image in full size Photo by Zac Ong on Unsplash
“Racing pigeons are often abandoned after they stop winning races, and they have no idea how to fend for themselves,” says Bob Harper, Founder of Great Western Pigeon Rescue. “These birds have been bred to be dependent on humans. Letting them go into the wild is cruel—they’re not built for it.”
But the narrative does not have to end in suffering. Savio Fonseca, a well-known bird rescuer from Mumbai, reminds us of their resilience: “People don’t realize how intelligent and loving pigeons can be. They’re more than just city dwellers—they’re living beings with families and a right to life. We need to protect them, not harm them.”
As the world around us urbanizes, the spaces where animals once thrived have shrunk. Pigeons, once used to carry messages between kings, now clutter city squares, relying on human generosity to survive. Dogs, bred for companionship, face traffic, pollution, and disease as strays. Their once-glossy coats grow ragged, their once-loving eyes become wary and mistrustful.
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