Walking down a large avenue in one of Europe's major cities, I spotted a lion perched on an eagle, holding the large bird by its talons. From a distance, it looked like a territorial dispute. It was a large, beautiful square, with lovely trees and other animals. Judging by the bird's imposing presence, it's possible the territorial lion perceived a threat to its reign in the area and initiated the attack. However, what struck me most was the calmness with which a pigeon defecated on the lion's head while it held the eagle by its neck. Did the pigeon understand what was happening? Did it realize the risk it was taking by being in that place at that moment? Or were its immediate needs more important to the small bird than any danger it might face? Perhaps the bird thought its beautiful white plumage and harmless appearance would protect it from attack by either of the predators involved. Perhaps she believed that governing the square wasn't her problem and that, for her, whichever animal won the contest wouldn't make a difference. Was the pigeon right? Did governing the square really not matter?
Both lions and eagles are carnivores and large animals. Lions measure about two meters in length, weigh an average of 270 kilograms, and can reach great speeds, close to an impressive 80 km/h. In a small space, like a square, it would be very difficult to escape a possible attack. Someone might say: "But at least they don't fly." However, they don't need to fly. They can lie in wait for hours, waiting for the right moment to attack. And eagles? Eagles are excellent hunters, birds of prey—and the word "prey" means "to seize." They have sharp beaks, strong claws, and extremely sharp hearing and vision. They can dive at high speed and deliver a fatal blow to their prey without it even realizing where the attack came from.
That being said, it's clear that the pigeon wouldn't have the slightest chance of surviving if either of the two predators decided to attack it. So, where does the pigeon's calmness and courage come from? Why does it defecate on the lion's head in the middle of the battle without showing any fear for its life? Is the pigeon really such a courageous animal? Who are pigeons?
Pigeons are animals that measure approximately 30 centimeters in length and feed primarily on seeds. They are domestic animals and usually live in urban environments. Their main predators are birds of prey and felines, specifically eagles and lions, the latter of which seek out their nests and eat their eggs and chicks.
So, where does this pigeon get the courage to calmly defecate on the head of one of its biggest predators amidst a territorial dispute with another of its biggest predators? It's difficult to give a concrete answer without knowing the pigeon personally; it would be better to ask it. However, some considerations are possible. The pigeon, being a monogamous animal with few offspring, thinks only of its nest and its family, as if the dispute for control of its territory didn't matter to it. The pigeon lives its life as if only immediate survival were important, ignoring the fact that its life is not under its control, just like the safety of its home and family.
A qualquer momento, um dos predadores que controlam sua região pode decidir algo sobre ele ou sua família sem pedir sua opinião ou consentimento. Pode mudar o tipo de alimento que eles podem consumir, o tipo de conteúdo que seus filhotes podem aprender ou até mesmo o tipo de tratamento médico que podem receber. Em troca, prometem deixá-los viver. Mas está tudo bem! O pombo tem uma casa, uma família e o direito de estar vivo. Para ele, isso parece ser o suficiente: uma casa que ele não governa, uma família sobre a qual não pode decidir o futuro ou a educação, e uma vida que só pode ser vivida segundo os termos do predador no comando. Mas, para o pombo, isso não importa. O que importa é defecar em praça pública e fingir que nada está acontecendo, assim, ele consegue se sentir um pouco mais seguro. E, para o predador, um pombo bom é um pombo calado e submisso, ainda que esteja fazendo merda. Agindo assim, a pequena ave ganhará o direito de viver e defecar à vontade, mesmo que não controle sua casa ou sua própria vida. O silêncio é preço da paz.
In this way, both coexist in agreement, and the pigeon lives one day at a time. Until the predator in charge gets involved in an even bigger territorial conflict and destroys the entire square. But no problem! If he continues doing nothing, everything will be fine. The pigeon likes to always think positively. And if everything goes wrong in the end, at least he messed up his whole life and convinced himself that he was happy and free. The square is not his problem.
