Thiruvananthapuram: Animal rights activists are piqued that the UDF chose to release a pair of white doves inside the council hall, as it could have turned fatal if they had hit one of the many fans running at full speed. State Animal Welfare Board member M N Jayachandran said that he would file a case against the councillors, especially as the doves including the Emerald Dove and pigeons except the Blue Rock Pigeon were included in Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act. “For one, they have to possess a licence issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden to deal with these birds in captivity,” he said.
PFA Thiruvananthapuram Chapter Trustee I Latha said that it was most unfortunate that the birds were exposed to such danger. UDF councillors D Anilkumar and V R Sini had released the doves, in the middle of slogan shouting by both the BJP and UDF. At that time, BJP councillors were hurling agenda copies into the air, and the atmosphere was noisy with even LDF councillors adding to the din. One of the doves, perhaps nonplussed by the chaos around it, soared straight towards a fan before it swerved in time missing the blades. It perched in the overhang, until Corporation photographer V S Prasanth rescued it, after the meeting was adjourned. The other dove managed to find a safe space inside a desk.
Nandavanam councillor Palayam Rajan took both the doves home. “I have 12 pairs of birds at home, which include both doves and pigeons of five different species. I would be glad to keep two more doves,” he said. When asked why they had released the doves inside the council hall despite the potential danger , UDF councillor D Anlkumar said that they had thought it through, and had ensured the animals were in no danger.
