Tampere councillor proposes closing 90-year-old Sorsapuisto bird enclosures over welfare concerns
Councillor Minna Minkkinen has proposed closing the nearly 90-year-old bird enclosures in Sorsapuisto, calling the cages unethical and proposing nature-focused alternatives such as birdwatching hides or towers.
Minna Minkkinen has filed a motion to the city council calling for closure of the nearly 90-year-old Sorsapuisto bird enclosures, according to YLE.
Minkkinen calls the cages unethical and beyond the city's core duties, arguing that birds should not be kept in enclosures. Her motion cites cramped, unstimulating conditions, altered social environments and constant human exposure as sources of stress. It warns that children may learn to see animals as entertainment rather than sentient beings, and proposes replacing the enclosures with nature-focused options such as birdwatching hides or towers.
Staff who care for the Sorsapuisto birds say routines are strict. A security company handles guarding, chicken cages are cleaned daily, and keepers provide enrichment such as perches and dust baths. Official veterinary inspections take place every two years, and the birds receive annual welfare reviews.
Birds have been kept in Sorsapuisto since 1939, and the first protective enclosures were built in 1953. Supporters and opponents alike are expected to debate the proposal if it reaches a council vote.
Catch the full story over at YLE
