Photo: YouTube
The latest viral stunt involvingpigeons wearing different styles of hatshas animal activists concerned about its impact on wildlife.
The political prank was meant to be an “aerial protest piece” against Democratic presidential candidates, who were in the city ahead of the debate, as well as a sign of loyalty to PresidentDonald Trump, who was also in the city that night, the guerrilla organization said in a statement to the local news outlet.
The exploit comes just weeks after a pigeon was photographedwearing a small sombreroand two months after multiple pigeons werespotted in Las Vegas with cowboy hatson their heads.
One of the pigeons who had a cowboy hat glued to its head died mid-January,according to the Associated Press. It’s unclear if the headgear played a part in the death.
While the pranksters behind the MAGA hat incidenttold theLas Vegas Review-Journalthat they used eyelash glue on the hats and the adhesive can be removed using dish soap when the fowls fly back to their coop, animal welfare advocates condemned the act as a risk to the birds’ health.
“These bozos aren’t scoring any points: Stupid pranks like this one are serious business that can interfere with pigeons’ ability to fly, see, and avoid predators, so it’s no surprise that at least one pigeon used in a similar stunt has already died,”People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals saidin a statement. “PETA is no stranger to provocative protests, but whatever your cause or political affiliation, pigeons should be left in peace.”
Lofty Hopes, a Las-Vegas based pigeon rescue that spoke out in December when cowboy hats were glued on birds, called the political statement “one of animal cruelty.”
RELATED VIDEO: Meet Armando, the Pigeon Worth $1.4 Million
“We removed any hats that were still in place. Many had already fallen off due to the fact that eyelash glue was used. The adhesive is not very strong,” the group said. “P.U.T.I.N is a satirical project and in protest to Trump. Our group had nothing to do with the cowboy hat project.”
source: people.com
