Petition calling for end to crow culling backed by over 2,500 after officers seen shooting crows near Aljunied MRT

Calls for the end of crow culling practices in Singapore were made after officers from the National Parks Board (NParks) were seen shooting the birds outside Aljunied MRT Station.

The jarring scene appeared to garner the attention of members of the public within the station, according to a clip of the incident circulating on social media.

Two officers were seen standing next to a green fence on the grass, one holding a gun pointed at the sky, while several dead crows lay scattered around.

Netizens took to the video's comments section to express their views on the matter, with many calling out the "inhumane way" of culling.

An ongoing online petition to end urban bird culling has also since regained traction.

It argued that repeated attempts to bird cull in Singapore "may not adequately address underlying root causes".

Common methods used to cull birds like pigeons, such as using chemical baits, may also lead to detrimental effects on the larger ecosystem, the petition wrote.

As of Oct. 21, it has garnered 2,573 signatures.

Crow shooting resumed in March

In response to a Mothership query, NParks' Group Director of Wildlife Management How Choon Beng said that as of October 2026, crow shooting operations have expanded to over 20 districts across the island from the initial nine.

Culling resumed on Mar. 24, and over 2,500 crows have been shot since.

The operations are expected to be rolled out to more sites after studies are conducted.

How also emphasised that house crows are an invasive non-native species to Singapore and pose a threat to the nation's native biodiversity.

"They can cause various disamenities such as noise, soiling, and hygiene issues, and are also particularly protective of their young and may attack residents when they sense that their young are threatened."

Safety measures taken

Addressing the shooting operation outside Aljunied MRT station, How said it had been actively managing the crow population in the area through a range of measures prior to the shooting.

These have included more frequent crow nest surveys and removed and crow trapping, which saw the removal of more than 70 crow nests and trapping of more than 100 crows between January 2025 and April 2026.

However, as the highly adaptable birds can become trap-shy, crow shooting was introduced as an additional measure.

"The operation was carried out in accordance with strict safety protocols, including cordoning off the shooting zone and putting up signage at access points to warn the public not to approach," How confirmed.

He added that safety personnel were also deployed for public safety and to maintain control throughout the operation.

Some residents support shooting

According to Lianhe Zaobao, some residents supported the shooting.

A waiter at a nearby restaurant said that before shooting operations began, hundreds of crows would nest in the open space every evening, making loud cawing sounds, though they did not impact the restaurant's business.

Another resident reported being attacked by crows two years ago on his way home.

"The crows have been 'kings of the trees' for a long time, which is very annoying," he said.

A third interviewee said that residents have grown used to seeing the crows and avoid the space where possible.

While she acknowledged others' opinions that shooting may be cruel, she pointed out that the method had worked much more effectively than other prior measures.