Harsha Bhogle: “Stop Feeding Pigeons,” Says Commentator While Referring to Pune Incident
Harsha Bhogle: "Stop Feeding Pigeons," Says Commentator While Referring to Pune Incident
Amid health concerns and court action over pigeon-related diseases, Harsha Bhogle urges citizens to act responsibly and stop feeding pigeons in public spaces.
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle has appealed to people to stop feeding pigeons, citing serious health risks linked to pigeon droppings. His remarks come amid heightened debate following the Bombay High Court’s directive to shut down pigeon lofts across Mumbai due to rising cases of respiratory illnesses and infections among residents living nearby.
The court’s decision has sparked strong protests, particularly from members of the Jain community and several bird lovers, who view the move as an attack on their faith-based compassion for animals. Demonstrations were held across Mumbai, with reports of confrontations between protestors and municipal staff carrying out the court’s order.
At a prayer meeting held at Yogi Hall in Dadar, Jain monks mourned the deaths of pigeons following the closure of lofts and announced the formation of a new political outfit, the ‘Shantidoot Jankalyan Paksha’, aimed at protecting pigeons and other animals.
Amid this unrest, Bhogle drew attention to the public health dimension of the issue. Sharing a news report on X, he wrote that doctors have long been warning about diseases caused by pigeon droppings, including serious lung infections. Bhogle said he felt “sad” to see people feeding large flocks of pigeons in Delhi, despite clear warnings from medical professionals.
Referring to a tragic incident in Pune, Bhogle mentioned the case of former corporator Sham Mankar’s daughter, who reportedly died from a pigeon-borne disease. Citing this, he urged the public to act responsibly and avoid encouraging the spread of such health risks.
“While going to a ground in Delhi, I saw people throwing grains at pigeons,” Bhogle wrote. “It broke my heart, because doctors are repeatedly telling us how dangerous pigeon droppings can be for our lungs. Please, let’s stop feeding pigeons.”
