50% dip in pigeon population in areas that piloted pigeon control plan, 3 more town councils to join plan

After a 50 per cent dip in the pigeon population in areas that implemented a pigeon management action plan, more are joining the fray.

Jalan Besar, Marsiling-Yew Tee and Nee Soon are the latest town councils to join a pigeon management action plan formulated in 2024 by National Parks Board (NParks), National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

The plan will be rolled out in these three new areas from June 2025 for a duration of six to nine months.

Outreach and enforcement focus of pilot

From July 2024 to March 2025, the coalition of government agencies had implemented a pilot action plan in three hotspot areas – Ang Mo Kio, Bishan-Toa Payoh and Tanjong Pagar Town Councils – to better manage pigeon populations.

In a Facebook post by Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How on May 20, 2025, Tan said the pilot focused on refuse and food waste management at bin centres and hawker centres, deterrence of bird-feeding and direct population control.

These were achieved through "outreach and public education efforts".

This included increased surveillance at bird feeding hotspots and actions taken against 50 cases of bird feeding over the nine months.

For those with mental health needs, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) will link them with appropriate services, such as counselling, for support.

Engagement sessions were also conducted by SFA with food establishment operators at various locations, emphasising cleanliness and effective refuse management practices such as installing protective covering on food display cabinets and tray return racks.

NParks worked with the town councils on their pigeon removal efforts, employing physical trapping and humane euthanasia to reduce pigeon populations at hotspots.

A set of guidelines were also developed for the use of alpha-chloralose (AC), a poison used to sedate pigeons before euthanasia.

Pilot has 'shown encouraging results'

In his Facebook post, Tan said the pigeon population within the three town councils is estimated to have decreased by around 50 per cent.

Pigeon-related feedback is also noted to be 34 per cent lower than the expected average between October 2024 and March 2025.

Jalan Besar, Marsiling-Yew Tee and Nee Soon were chosen to partake in the new phase of the action plan because of factors such as pigeon population and pigeon-related feedback from residents, Tan stated.

Measures in the new phase will be similar to the pilot phase.

If successful, efforts are expected to be expanded across Singapore.

Pigeon population can affect public health if left unchecked

Rock pigeons, the non-native species of pigeons most commonly found in Singapore, are known to flock near residential areas in big groups due to the availability of human food.

According to NParks, they are highly reproductive with few natural predators in Singapore.

This has resulted in widespread soiling and hygiene issues, and has potential impact on public health given their proximity to humans.

Top image by Bryan Lim/NParks and SFA