Famous Owl 'Placo' Found with Rat Poison in Autopsy
Shift to Distributing Birth Control Pills Amid Public Backlash
The New York City Council, troubled by swarms of rats infesting the city center, is launching a pilot program to curb their population growth by distributing contraceptives instead of rat poison.
Rats swarming out of a blanket used by a homeless person in the New York subway [Image source=TikTok]
On the 27th (local time), the British daily The Guardian reported that the New York City Council approved this pilot program. In the coming months, New York City plans to install rodent contraceptives called 'Contra Pest' throughout the city for rats to consume.
Rats in New York are notorious not only for their large numbers but also for their size and aggressiveness. Their body length ranges from 40 to 50 cm, and they weigh between 500 g and 1 kg. Their breeding rate is also rapid; if food is available, they can give birth to offspring in just three weeks. While New York City's population is estimated at about 8.3 million, statistics suggest the rat population may reach 3 million.
Many New Yorkers detest rats, considering them the number one 'public enemy.' At the same time, some harbor ambivalent feelings, viewing rats as a symbol of the city with which they have coexisted for a long time. However, public opinion toward rats sharply worsened after it was revealed that the cause of death of 'Placo,' a famous New York barred owl who suddenly died last February, was ingestion of rat poison.
Placo escaped from the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan, New York, in February 2023 and lived freely as a 'New Yorker' for a year before dying after colliding with a building on West 89th Street last February. Born in 2010 at a bird sanctuary in North Carolina, Placo was transferred to the Central Park Zoo at the end of the same year. Placo’s life, spent 13 years in captivity, changed dramatically when an unidentified person made a hole in the wire mesh of his cage.
The Eurasian eagle-owl 'Placo' loved by New York citizens [Image source=UPI Yonhap News archive photo]
After escaping from the zoo, Placo became a major focus of attention from New Yorkers and the media. Initially, zoo officials attempted several times to recapture Placo but failed, and a petition campaign arose urging people not to capture him. Eventually, the zoo gave up on capturing Placo, who then expanded his territory to Manhattan.
However, life in the city was not easy. The New York Times reported, "Colliding with buildings, especially windows, was one of the deadly threats Placo faced, along with other dangers such as rats that had ingested poison and collisions with vehicles." The Guardian explained that Placo’s autopsy revealed he had ingested rat poison, which led to the current plan to distribute contraceptives for rats.
Eric Adams, the former police officer and current mayor of New York City, who has made 'rat extermination' a key municipal agenda, created a new high-ranking official position dedicated to rat extermination last year, called the 'Rat Czar' (Director of Rodent Reduction), offering an annual salary of $155,000 (about 200 million KRW). As a result, Kathleen Coradi (34), a former New York City education official, secured the position after beating out 900 applicants. Qualifications for the 'Rat Czar' include a college degree, document handling skills, and at least five years of experience in pest and harmful animal extermination. New York City also emphasized, "The most important qualities are killer instincts to fight our main enemy, bold action and ferocity, and an aura of rough behavior," highlighting that this role is unlike any other government position.
Alongside this, New York City is employing various methods to win the war against rat swarms, including delaying garbage disposal times from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., installing rat traps, and injecting carbon monoxide into rat holes.
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