Animal welfare in Japan - Cab driver runs over pigeon - and is arrested
The police have made it clear to a cab driver in Tokyo that pigeons are also road users worthy of protection. The 50-year-old was arrested for deliberately running over a pigeon, the police confirmed. The cab driver had "used his car to kill a pigeon", said a police spokesman. Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV reported that the police had classified the driver's behavior as "highly malicious".
The incident had previously made headlines in Japan. According to media reports, the cab driver sped towards a group of pigeons on the road at around 60 kilometers per hour when the light turned green at an intersection last month. The sudden roar of the engine caught the attention of a passer-by, who then called the police.
Vet autopsies dead pigeon in Japan
Investigators took the case very seriously and commissioned a vet to perform an autopsy on the pigeon to establish beyond doubt whether it had died as a result of the collision with the cab. According to media reports, the cab driver felt he was in the right. "The streets belong to the people, so the pigeons should have got out of the way," said the 50-year-old.
The arrest sparked discussions in online networks. "Wow, you can be arrested for running over a pigeon?" asked one user on the online service X (formerly Twitter) in amazement. Another wrote that the cab driver had "crossed a line". "He could have just honked his horn or something."
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The cab driver's incident involving a pigeon has gained attention not only in Japan but also on international platforms, with some users expressing their thoughts on online services. One user questioned the severity of the punishment, asking, "Can you really be arrested for running over a pigeon?" Another user believed the driver had gone too far, stating, "He should have just honked his horn or something, not deliberately trying to kill a pigeon." This incident has highlighted the concern for animal welfare in Japan, where even pigeons are considered road users with protection rights.
Source: www.stern.de
