Pigeons Rescued From Towering Cardiff Hotel

Two pigeons have been saved in remarkable circumstances, rescued five floors up at a Hilton hotel in Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA Cymru attended the scene, after the two birds were spotted – on 17 February – dangling from their feet, trapped in netting towards the top of the Hilton Hotel, in the centre of Wales’ capital city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The support of crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) was enlisted by the RSPCA, who were able to free both birds from the netting on the building. The hotel also provided support – allowing the RSPCA, and SWFRS, to access the birds and set them free. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One pigeon was returned to the wild immediately, and another was released following a short spell in veterinary care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The charity has also highlighted how the incident acts as an important reminder as to the maintenance of such external netting, to protect birds from getting caught or entangled. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA inspector Sophie Daniels said: “Fortunately, the pigeons were rescued and are now safe and well, back in the wild. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re grateful to the firefighters from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service for their support in completing this rescue, which shows what we can achieve working together to protect local animals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The hotel also allowed us to access the birds to get them free, so we are very grateful to them for their support – and it’s just nice to be involved in a happy ending. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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“Incidents like this act as an important reminder that external netting can act as an obstacle to wild birds, and it’s great that the hotel will be monitoring this closely to help protect the nation’s wildlife.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Marie Fagan, general manager of the Hilton Cardiff, said: “It is situations like these which show how vital the RSPCA’s work is to protecting our animals and wildlife. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We worked closely with both the RSPCA and Fire & Rescue Services to help them release the pigeons and we would like to thank them for their efforts. We are thrilled that both pigeons were safely rescued.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​