The contract for the service of control, live collection and transfer of gallinaceous birds in the municipality of Torrevieja is put out to tender

The Local Government Board (JGL) of the Torrevieja City Council has approved this morning the tender for the contracting of the service of control, live collection and transfer of wild gallinaceous birds in the municipality of Torrevieja.

The Councillor for Animal Welfare, Concha Sala, has reported that the objective of this contract is to control the population of gallinaceous birds in various points of the municipal area, as well as to prevent their proliferation. Furthermore, the need arises due to unforeseen circumstances which are intended to be resolved as soon as possible. Taking into account the particularities and needs of the object of the contract, as well as the need for monitoring at various points of the city after the initial capture and transport, the duration of the contract will be 12 months, with the base tender budget being 26,296 euros (VAT included). The maximum number of birds captured and relocated will be 700 in the total contract.

PROLIFERATION OF GALLINACEOUS BIRDS

The Animal Welfare Councillor states that in recent years wild or feral gallinaceous birds have proliferated in various parts of Torrevieja in an uncontrolled manner. These birds inhabit various parts of the city such as parks, gardens, public roads or any other places where they manage to find shelter and obtain the necessary sustenance. Having carried out visual counts in the different areas where they are known to live, around 700 birds have been counted, including roosters, hens and chickens, so, in order to minimise the number of birds in public areas, avoid possible damage and conflicts with the population, it is considered necessary to carry out this bird control service in the municipal area of Torrevieja.

Concha Sala has highlighted that in Spain there is an increasing awareness of the need to guarantee the protection of animals in general and, in particular, of animals that live in the human environment, as beings endowed with sensitivity whose rights must be protected.

The sudden appearance and uncontrolled increase in the number of gallinaceous birds poses a great risk both for the animals themselves and for people. These birds are currently temporarily forced to live in a hostile environment for them, shared with vehicles and people. When birds move and wander around public roads, parks, green areas and roads in search of food, they pose a danger to themselves, pedestrians and vehicles, and can be run over or cause traffic accidents.