Measures to Counter Over-population of Pigeons and Resultant Harmful Pollutive Effects
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Yeo Wan Ling’s inquiry regarding measures to address pigeon overpopulation and pollutive effects such as bird carcasses, feathers, and waste. Minister Desmond Lee responded that NParks adopts a holistic, science-based approach focusing on food source reduction, habitat modification, and humane population control. To reduce food availability, NParks collaborates with agencies and Town Councils to enforce against bird-feeding and littering while promoting proper food waste management. Outreach initiatives involve engaging feeders to discourage the practice, while workers are trained in proper pigeon removal and handling to maintain environmental cleanliness. Minister Desmond Lee concluded that NParks will regularly review these measures to safeguard public health while encouraging the public to play their part in keeping the environment clean.
Transcript
66 Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Minister for National Development what are the current measures taken to counter an over-population of pigeons and their harmful pollutive effects, such as decomposing carcasses of birds, discarded feathers and pigeon waste.
Mr Desmond Lee: NParks adopts a holistic and science-based approach to managing the pigeon population in Singapore, comprising measures, such as food source reduction, habitat modification and population control.
Food made available by humans is a key driver of pest bird population growth. To reduce the availability of food sources, NParks works closely with SFA, NEA and Town Councils to encourage proper food waste management at food establishments and to enforce against littering and illegal bird-feeding. As part of its education and outreach efforts, NParks also partners Town Councils, MSO, PA and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to engage feeders. This enables NParks to find out feeders’ motivations and discourage them from continuing to feed birds.
NParks also works closely with stakeholders to ensure that its population control methods for pigeons are conducted in a sustainable and humane manner. For example, NParks works with Town Councils and the industry to equip workers with the necessary skills and methods to handle and remove pigeons properly during their operations and to maintain general cleanliness afterwards.
NParks will continue to work with agencies and regularly review its measures to manage the pigeon population to safeguard public safety and health. All of us can also play our part by not feeding these pest birds and keeping our environment clean.