Argentine official suspended after claiming that pigeon meat should be fed to poorer children in bid to control bird population

An Argentine official has been suspended after suggesting that a good way to help control the pigeon population would be to feed the birds to poorer state school children.
Oscar de Allende, an environmental official in Cordoba, claimed the authorities were drawing up plans for the initiative.
But he was promptly removed from his post for 'controversial statements on pigeon consumption' after more senior officials denied any plans existed.

An Argentine official wrongly claimed plans were afoot to feed pigeons to poorer state school children as means of reducing the bird population (file picture)

Mr Allende told a local radio station that the Cordoba region had an estimated 600million pigeons, which should be considered an 'abundant resource' rather than a pest, it was reported on BBC News.
He insisted that their meat is highly prized in areas like Europe, where some dishes are 'considered to be delicacies'.