Concern in Delhi over ‘rats from the sky’

Pigeon droppings are acidic and cause a number of respiratory illnesses; yet people continue to feed them

DTE Staff

Published:18th Jul, 2025 at 4:42 PM

Delhi faces growing concern over the increasing pigeon population, dubbed 'rats from the sky,' due to health risks from their droppings.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has urged action to control their numbers, following a National Green Tribunal notice highlighting respiratory illnesses linked to pigeon poop.

There is concern in Delhi over what might be among the most harmless looking of birds: the common pigeon or rock dove.

The public health department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has urged the veterinary department to control the boom in pigeon numbers across the national capital.

According to the Hindustan Times, the MCD health department’s direction comes after a meeting on June 27 where concerns were raised about potential health threats posed by the birds.

Despite the public health hazard posed by pigeons, people feed them in public places.

Earlier in June 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had issued notices to the Delhi government after a plea filed by a school student which raised a red flag about health hazards caused by pigeon droppings in public areas.

Pigeons may appear harmless but have often been termed as ‘rats from the skies’ due to their tendency to litter spaces and the threat of disease posed by them

Pigeon poop has been linked to respiratory illnesses including psittacosis, ornithosis, cryptococcosis and pneumonitis. It also contains pathogens including salmonella and E. coli.

Pigeon poop is also acidic in nature and corrodes buildings. A single pigeon produces around 12 kilograms of droppings. No wonder then, that pigeons have been derogatorily called ‘rats from the skies’.