TfL shoots 655 pigeons in two-year London Underground cull
Campaigners report 123 organised operations at stations including Stanmore, Hendon Central and Arnos Grove
News London evidence indexOpen analysis ▾
Figures sourced from Manchester Pigeon Rehab data and TfL job report provide concrete evidence.
Higher is stronger
Includes quotes from both the campaign group and TfL, explains why pigeon control matters.
Higher is stronger
Sensational language and graphic images create notable sensationalism but not clickbait.
Lower is better
Transport for London shot and killed 655 pigeons in 123 organised operations across London Underground stations over the past two years. The cull, carried out by contractor AGS One, took place between midnight and 5 a.m. at sites including Stanmore, Hendon Central and Arnos Grove.
Manchester Pigeon Rehab, a campaign group, obtained data showing that 17 active nests were removed and seven dependent chicks were killed or taken away. The group filed a crime report with British Transport Police on 15 April 2026, describing the operations as reducing "sentient animals to pests that must be eradicated."
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Evidence of trapped and injured birds
Photographs supplied to the *Evening Standard* show dead pigeons piled on platforms and a worker stepping on a bleeding bird at Stanmore station. On 12 occasions, birds became trapped in netting installed at stations. Workers shot the trapped birds instead of releasing them, according to the campaign group. Three of those incidents occurred at Woodford station.
At Arnos Grove station, a TfL job report confirmed that four shots were fired at a single pigeon. Some birds escaped after being shot. A worker’s report from New Cross Gate Depot stated: "Pigeon flew down and exited the shed and landed along the live tracks." The condition of these birds remains unknown.
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TfL defends operations as last resort
TfL operates under a GL41 licence for pigeon control, which requires a lawful public-health purpose and measures to minimise suffering. In a statement to *Metro*, TfL said: "We continue to invest in preventative measures as our primary approach, exhausting all appropriate non-lethal methods."
The authority added that lethal control is used only as a last resort when other deterrents fail. Pigeon waste, it said, poses risks of bacteria and insects, while nesting material creates fire hazards and structural damage. TfL has not responded to requests for a list of stations where operations took place.
We reject TfL’s stance that these bird shoots were humane. Transport for London should immediately end lethal control in favour of habitat modification and humane deterrents.
Manchester Pigeon Rehab
What happens next
British Transport Police confirmed receipt of Manchester Pigeon Rehab’s crime report but said no further action would be taken unless new evidence emerges. TfL has not announced any changes to its pigeon-control policy.
Residents can request details of operations in their neighbourhood under the Freedom of Information Act. Requests should be addressed to TfL’s Customer Services team and must specify a station or date range.
Questions this report answers
+Why did Transport for London carry out the pigeon cull?
Transport for London stated it used the culls as a last resort when non-lethal deterrents failed. The authority claimed pigeon waste poses public-health risks, while nesting material can cause fire hazards and structural damage to stations.
+How many pigeons were killed and where did the culls take place?
Transport for London killed 655 pigeons across 123 organised operations between March 2024 and March 2026. The culls occurred at stations including Stanmore, Hendon Central, Arnos Grove and Woodford, with some birds trapped and shot on platforms.
+What did campaigners say about the operations?
Campaign group Manchester Pigeon Rehab filed a crime report with British Transport Police, calling the culls inhumane. They argued the operations reduced sentient animals to pests and demanded an end to lethal control in favour of humane deterrents.
+Can residents find out if pigeon culls happened near them?
Yes, residents can request details of local operations under freedom-of-information rules. Requests must specify a station or date range and should be sent to TfL’s Customer Services team.
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