Wednesday June 19
State budget cuts put Berlin’s pigeon welfare project on hold
After months of discussion, the Berlin senate and the black-red coalition have published a list of 600 projects indicating where funds are to be cut, and there’s one clear loser: Berlin’s animal welfare.
Out of a total of almost 40,000 euros dedicated to the department the previous year, only a few thousand remain in place after the cuts. Meanwhile, personnel costs continue to rise and planned projects are put on hold.
One such project is the management of Berlin’s urban pigeons. You’d be forgiven for thinking of these birds as a thriving species of pest rather than at-risk wildlife. But according to State Animal Welfare Officer Dr. Kathrin Herrmann, these creatures are often poorly fed, have unsafe breeding grounds and health problems, usually leading to an early death by starvation.
Herrmann has been at the forefront of a large-scale campaign promoting the respectful treatment of Berlin pigeons and the recognition of their place in the urban landscape. With their budget slashed, the pigeon protection campaign has been put on hold, at least until next year.
