The first WORLD DAY FOR THE DEFENCE OF LIMINAL ANIMALS will be celebrated on July, 20 2024.
Created by the French association PAZ – Paris Animaux Zoopolis, it is a day to promoting collective reflection on how to coexist with liminal animals in urban spaces.

They are all those animals, wild and not domestic, who live freely with us in urban areas: pigeons, rats, hedgehogs, rabbits and hares, swans, sparrows, ravens, squirrels, etc. Animals who got used to live in our cities due to profound changes in their habitat caused by urbanization and human lifestyle.

Unfortunately, liminal animals are often despised or even killed

They are considered a nuisance to get rid of using cruel killing methods. They are not considered sentient beings who have rights and need of protection and with whom we can learn to peacefully coexist sharing together the vital space that humans have stolen them.

1. IMPROVE THEIR LIVES

• DO NOT support or employ lethal and cruel methods for population control. Nowadays, ethical and effective alternatives exist, which are aimed at managing them on the territory without causing pain, suffering and death.
• DO leave adequate green and protected space available by also creating suitable housing structures in the areas where they live (i.e., pigeon lofts)
• Public policies must guarantee protection for these animals, preserve their habitat, set up appropriate spaces for their needs and ensure access to adequate nutrition and appropriate care.

2. CHANGE THE COLLECTIVE PERCEPTION

We must change the consideration we have of these animals, victims of our misconceptions. It is essential to modify the perception we have of these animals to sensitize the public through educational and informative activities, conferences and scientific outreach in schools and communities.

The first World Day for the Defence of Liminal Animals is dedicated to PIGEONS

Pigeons are among the most frowned upon liminal animals in our cities. Considered disturbing, dirty and carriers of diseases, they are often chased away badly, killed with cruel methods or, if injured, they do not have access to veterinary clinics due to lack of structures interested to care for them.

Pigeons frequently become ensnared in nets strategically positioned throughout urban areas to restrict their access, often sustaining severe injuries as they struggle to break free or succumbing to entanglement-related fatalities.

In some cities, population control measures involve capturing pigeons with nets or trap cages and then gassing them with CO2. In other urban areas pigeons are allowed to be killed by shooting with firearms.

It is unacceptable that cruel methods are still used today. In 2023, in a written response to parliamentarians, the French Ministry of Ecology concluded that “lethal methods are ineffective in the long term”.

Ethical alternatives exist, such as contraceptive pigeon lofts and hormone-free contraceptive corn. Some European cities, such as Barcelona, Paris or Brussels have already chosen to implement these ethical and effective methods.

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