Animal right activists urge couples not to release doves at their weddings because they have ‘zero survival skills’
- Animal right groups have urged engaged couples to not release white doves
- Newbury-based bird rescue operation Corvid Dawn posted a warning online
- Another group shared a snap of a dead white dove lying in the middle of the road
Animal right groups have urged engaged couples to not release white doves at their weddings because they are ‘sealing the birds’ fate and many will die’.
The stark warning was issued alongside a photograph of a dead dove lying in the middle of the road, plus a mocked-up image of one being attacked by a crow.
It coincides with Newbury-based bird rescue operation Corvid Dawn explaining the consequences of incorporating doves into your special day.
The organisation wrote on Facebook about how the increased sightings of ‘white pigeons looking lost and staved’ was no coincidence with the wedding season fully underway.
‘They are often not mature, not free flown, meaning they are too exhausted to work out how to get home, and haven’t been in an aviary to get their bearings of homing instinct, let alone flight muscles,’ the post read. ‘So they have no idea how to survive without humans, or how to get home.’
And the pleading message to ‘raise awareness about this’ has since been widely shared on social media, with the post being shared more than 28,000 times and liked by nearly 9,000 people.
A dead white dove is spotted in the middle of the road, pictured left, plus one of the domestic winged-creatures is attacked by a vicious crow, pictured right. The images were shared by an animal rights group to warn of the consequences of incorporating doves into your special day
The issue was first pointed out earlier this month by Newbury-based bird rescue charity Corvid Dawn in a Facebook post (pictured)
Winged Warriors, a Facebook page dedicated to sharing the latest news regarding animals’ welfare, posted Corvid Dawn’s words along with the shocking images of a dead dove and one being attacked.
The photographs’ caption read: ‘During “dove releases”, birds are let out of a cage and event attendees likely assume they’ve been ‘set free’ and will live happily ever after.
‘Sadly, the moment these birds are released… their fate is sealed and many will die. These poor domesticated birds have zero survival skills.
‘They’ve no idea how to find food for themselves and they’ve little understanding of their predators – it’s on par with dumping your dog or cat on the street…’
Social media users were keen to comment on the devastating warning, with one writing: ‘What are we doing to our wildlife!
Winged Warriors (pictured), a Facebook page dedicated to sharing the latest news regarding animals’ welfare, posted Corvid Dawn’s words along with the shocking images of a dead dove and an attacked one
Reaction: Social media users were keen to comment on the devastating warning
‘What with lanterns and balloons killing and maiming animals as well, for the sake of a few minutes of joy.’
Another added: ‘Thank you for bringing awareness to this heartless money making act.’
‘I feel awful now, I had no idea they couldn’t get home. We released them at our wedding 10 years ago,’ a third admitted.
However, one individual pointed out that the doves are not always in danger and that ‘reputable companies will spend hours training homing doves to get back safely’.
One individual pointed out that the doves are not always in danger and that ‘reputable companies will spend hours training homing doves to get back safely’ (stock photo)
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