Bangkok plans mass pigeon transfer from royal grounds

Jan 19, 2010, 3:26 GMT

Bangkok - Bangkok authorities plan to evict thousands of pigeons from the city's Sanam Luang park in an effort to spruce up the historic site, officials said Tuesday.

Starting on February 1, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials art to start rounding up an estimated 10,000 pigeons that frequent the grounds and transfer them to a military-controlled area about 100 kilometres west of Bangkok near the Thai-Myanmar border.

'We will not harm the birds,' said Chumphol Sampaopol, BMA director of public works.

But he admitted that he was not convinced the pigeon transfer would work.

'From past experience we know that when you move pigeons, about 80 to 90 per cent of them will find their way back,' he said. 'The best solution is to find a way to curb their population growth.'

The pigeon removal is part of plans to renovate the grounds.

Sanam Luang is situated across the road from the compound of the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha, the former residence of Thai monarchs and now a major tourist attraction.

The grounds are still used for royal ceremonies, such as funerals and an annual ploughing ritual, but are more commonly associated with Bangkok's frequent mass anti-government rallies.