A woman discovered more than 20 dead pigeons located between two residential blocks in Yishun on 22 May
The woman noticed numerous dead birds and several others on the brink of death in the vicinity. When she inquired about the situation, a cleaner informed her that the pigeons had been given “medicine”.
Nee Soon Town Council, in response to the incident, expressed its commitment to exploring sustainable approaches for managing the pigeon population within the town.
Called ACRES for help
The individual who discovered the pigeons, identified as Ms Aishah by The Straits Times (ST), found them in grassy areas and common spaces between Block 436 and Block 438 on Yishun Avenue 11. Concerned about the situation, she reached out to the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) (ACRES) for assistance. ACRES promptly arrived at the scene within an hour, as reported by ST.
Ms Aishah expressed her sadness and concern over the sight of approximately 20 pigeons lying lifeless in close proximity to residents and their pets. She mentioned that young children, possibly under the age of four, were playing in the area where the birds were found.
Town Council says pigeons transmit diseases
In response to media inquiries, the Nee Soon Town Council (NSTC) acknowledged the incident and communicated with the resident via email to address her concerns. NSTC emphasized its ongoing efforts to enhance services and cater to various resident concerns. It highlighted the health risks associated with pigeons, as they can transmit a wide range of diseases through their droppings, particularly to individuals with weakened immune systems.
NSTC employs a balanced and proactive approach to managing the pigeon population in the town, including the installation of spikes to prevent nesting and roosting, as well as public education campaigns to discourage pigeon feeding and promote proper disposal of food waste. However, despite these efforts, there remains an excess of pigeons in the town.
“Bird nuisance”
Citing an independent survey conducted by the Municipal Services Office in Q4 2022, NSTC stated that Nee Soon GRC had a resident satisfaction rate of 52% concerning bird nuisance, which is below the national average of 60%. Despite the town council’s endeavours to control the pigeon population, residents expressed dissatisfaction.
NSTC assured that its workers possess the necessary skills and methods to handle and remove pigeons during treatment operations while maintaining cleanliness afterwards. It urged residents to report any affected pigeons to the town council.
NSTC also mentioned its collaboration with ACRES to develop a comprehensive solution for addressing the pigeon overpopulation issue in Nee Soon, although specific measures were not disclosed.
Stop using toxins
ACRES co-chief executive, Anbarasi Boopal, revealed that 20 pigeons were found dead and another seven were rescued and treated. The ACRES team suspected that the birds had been exposed to the drug alpha-chloralose (AC) due to their symptoms. Despite Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann’s statement in Parliament that NParks had been working with town councils to move away from using toxins, ACRES has rescued over 1,000 poisoned birds since 2021.
Ms Anbarasi expressed hope that the National Environment Agency (NEA) would implement additional measures such as reducing the pigeons’ food sources and preventing residents from feeding them. She emphasized that culling without addressing the food supply would lead to population growth, as more food would be available for fewer pigeons to breed successfully.
Header images source: Nooraishah Noor on Facebook