Residents of Lahore are facing distress as scavenger birds, mainly kites, are attacking them in search of food. This behavior is particularly noticeable when people carry food in their bags or when kites swoop down on roads to grab discarded flesh from Sadqa meat sellers.
Wildlife expert Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, from the Institute of Zoology at the University of Punjab, has raised concerns about the increasing aggression of kites towards the public. He explained that openly offering food, like meat, to birds and kites can contribute to their aggressive behavior. When wild animals, including predatory birds like kites, become accustomed to receiving food from humans, it disrupts their natural hunting instincts and creates a dependency on handouts.
Dr. Ali stressed that feeding wild animals, whether intentionally as a religious offering or unintentionally through littering, can have negative consequences for both the animals and the public. It can lead to health issues for the animals, alter their natural behavior, and cause conflicts with humans.
He advised the public to refrain from feeding wild animals in public spaces to ensure a healthy and harmonious coexistence with wildlife. Instead, it is best to appreciate and admire wildlife from a distance, allowing them to find their natural sources of food and maintain their ecological balance.
