Kraków, a city in southern Poland, has announced a pilot program aimed at controlling its pigeon population by introducing contraceptives. According to local media, city representatives and experts assure that the method will be safe for the birds. This initiative is intended to enhance the health of the pigeons and mitigate issues related to their overpopulation, such as disease and food scarcity.

The program involves collaboration with the animal protection foundation Dzikusy Salamandry, which has reported that it treats between 20 to 30 pigeons daily, many of whom are sick and weak. In the initial phase of the project, feeding stations will be set up in areas where the pigeon population is most dense, and corn grains treated with contraceptive agents will be replenished daily. Sabina Janeczková, the city's animal care representative, mentioned that while the number of pigeons will not decrease overnight, it is a long-term process aimed at sustainable population control.

Polish media have noted that other European cities are also exploring humane solutions to manage their pigeon populations, reflecting a growing trend toward more compassionate and environmentally friendly approaches to urban wildlife management. This pilot program in Kraków may serve as a model for similar initiatives across the continent, emphasizing the need for coexistence with urban wildlife while addressing public health and safety concerns.