Pigeon management plan to be rolled out in three more town councils

Key Concepts: Pigeon population management, population control, humane euthanasia, enforcement against illegal feeding, reduction of pigeon-related feedback, pilot program, physical methods (trapping).

Pilot Program Overview:

• A pilot program to manage the pigeon population was initiated last July in Bishan-Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio, and Tanjong Pagar.
• The program aimed to reduce the pigeon population due to their potential to spread diseases like salmonella and their high reproductive rate.
• The National Parks Board (NParks) emphasizes the need for active management due to the lack of natural predators.

Results of the Pilot Program:

• The pilot program resulted in a reduction of the pigeon population by approximately 50% in the initial three town councils.
• Pigeon-related feedback decreased by around 34% compared to the expected average from October last year to March this year.
• Residents in Bishan-Toa Payoh reported a noticeable improvement, with fewer pigeons bothering them during outdoor meals.

Methods Employed:

• The program involved physical methods such as trapping pigeons.
• Humane euthanasia was used as a method of population control.
• Enforcement action was taken against individuals illegally feeding the birds.

Extension of the Program:

• The pigeon management plan will be extended to Jalan Besar, Marsiling-Yew Tee (UT), and Nee Soon town councils next month.
• The extension will run for 6 to 9 months.
• These locations were selected due to their high pigeon populations.
• If successful, the program will be scaled up to other areas.

Quotes:

• Resident of Bishan-Toa Payoh: "More peaceful when we eat outside, yeah, um, they, we don't have them troubling us."

Conclusion:

The pilot program demonstrated the effectiveness of a multi-pronged approach involving trapping, humane euthanasia, and enforcement against illegal feeding in reducing the pigeon population and associated issues. The extension of the program to additional town councils indicates a commitment to managing the pigeon population across Singapore, with the potential for further scaling up based on the success of these initiatives.