Pigeon seen flying with arrow in Rovaniemi sparks concerns of animal cruelty

Irma Kuukasjärvi from Rovaniemi shared a shocking image on social media depicting a pigeon perched on a house roof, with an arrow seemingly piercing through it. Despite the apparent injury, the bird was seen flying and feeding at a bird feeder. Kuukasjärvi initially thought the bird’s red coloration was due to a fight, but her partner pointed out that it was likely caused by the arrow. “It’s disturbing to see an animal treated this way. This is animal cruelty,” Kuukasjärvi stated. She has reached out to the Rovaniemi Animal Protection Society to determine whether the bird can be saved or if it needs to be euthanized.

The first sighting of the wounded pigeon occurred last week. According to Aleksi Junttila, an official from the Rovaniemi Game Management Association, the arrow does not appear to be from a bow. “I would say it’s not a hunting arrow. It’s hard to interpret since the image is quite poor,” he noted. He added that hunting is prohibited within urban areas and within 150 meters of residential properties, and it also requires the landowner’s permission. In such situations, the police have the authority to decide on euthanizing the animal.

Sara Jokinen, a city veterinarian in Rovaniemi, has not seen the image but speculated that the arrow might be lodged in the bird’s feathers instead of piercing its body. “If that’s the case, it probably wouldn’t be able to fly,” she said. Jokinen suggested that the bird could be captured and taken to a veterinarian. Another veterinarian, Jutta Kasvi, who has seen the image online, hopes the bird can be examined. “It’s possible that the arrow has penetrated its body without damaging major blood vessels or vital organs, allowing it to survive temporarily,” she explained.