Protect Pigeons! Pro-Bird PETA Appeal Hits City Airwaves
New York — Starting this week, PETA is running a pro-pigeon plea from its series “A Minute for the Animals” on 103.5 KTU/WKTU-FM encouraging New Yorkers to be kind and help out any sick or injured birds they may encounter on city streets. Narrated by PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, the spot shares interesting and little-known facts about pigeons, including that they’re devoted, family-oriented birds who mate for life and that they recognize their own reflections in puddles or mirrors.
“Like other New Yorkers, pigeons are keenly intelligent individuals who love their families, can feel pain and fear, and value their own lives,” says PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA is encouraging everyone to see pigeons as neighbors just trying to eke out an existence and help them out when they’re in distress.”
There are roughly 4 million pigeons in New York City, or one pigeon for every two humans. Even though humans have derided, raced to death, poisoned, and shot pigeons, the birds have been known to help rescue humans during wartime and spot sailors lost at sea. They have sharp memories and better vision than humans do and are one of just three species on Earth known to be able to distinguish between number groups and learn abstract mathematical rules.
The ad is running on 103.5 KTU/WKTU-FM between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. through Friday, September 30.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
All Images and Video: Rescued pigeon who had a blow-dart removed from his wing (which was injured), along with the removed dart. The video shows their release back into the wild. Images (and rescue) Credit – Humane Long Island
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, and PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally.
PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview, and focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment business. We also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of rodents, birds, and other animals who are often considered “pests” as well as cruelty to domesticated animals.
PETA works through public education, investigative newsgathering and reporting, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.
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