British tourists visiting Tenerife have been urged to avoid making a common mistake that could result in them being slapped with an eye-watering £1,000 fine.
Feeding animals in a public place in Tenerife is a serious punishable offence. Recently, two residents of Tenerife were slapped with a fine of £855 each (1,000 euros) by the Environmental Sustainability and Public Services department of the Santa Cruz Council for feeding pigeons in public areas.
The act violated the Municipal Ordinance regulating the Protection and Ownership of Animals in Santa Cruz.
The law classes this as a serious administrative offence punishable by a fine of up to £1.2k (€1,500). Separate incidents recently took place on Avenida Ángel Romero and Avenida Las Asuncionistas in the capital of Tenerife, according to Canarian Weekly.
The Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, said that “providing food, of any kind, to any animal found in public places is a serious offence and a lack of respect for other citizens.
“Therefore, these residents must be penalised to prevent it from happening again, as these acts pose serious public health problems and deteriorate our heritage.”
Meanwhile, the councillor for the Environmental, Carlos Tarife, added: “We will continue to penalise anyone who feeds pigeons in Santa Cruz, a practice that not only leads to uncontrolled growth in the number of these specimens but can also transmit diseases such as histoplasmosis, salmonellosis, and cryptococcosis, as well as carrying bedbugs and ticks, causing, through their excrement and nesting, serious damage to architectural and urban furniture, with the consequent economic impact on public funds.”
Tarife added: “The council is making a great effort to control the high number of pigeons in the city, and we cannot allow others to feed them, leaving food residues in public areas and attracting rat or cockroach infestations.”
According to the reports, the Santa Cruz Council captures between 700 and 1,000 pigeons per month in traps and nets, and in the last week, they have tested the use of a specially trained hawk in strategic areas, such as Plaza de España or Parque García Sanabria, to prevent the pigeons from reproducing as studies show they are nervous when a bird of prey is around.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, known for its stunning natural landscapes, including beautiful beaches, volcanic terrain, and the towering Mount Teide, which is the highest peak in Spain. It is incredibly popular with British tourists and expats.
The island boasts a diverse range of attractions and activities for visitors. Along its coastline, there are numerous resorts offering opportunities for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, and diving. Some of the popular beaches include Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos, and Costa Adeje.
