Singapore residents who repeatedly feed wildlife illegally to face jail, stiffer fines

Rock pigeons can potentially spread germs that cause zoonotic diseases such as salmonella, which infects the intestinal tract through contaminated food, water or animal contact.

Other infections include toxoplasmosis, caused by a parasitic worm that forms cysts in tissues and often remains dormant in the body for life, while Escherichia coli is bacteria in the intestines that can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and urinary tract infections.

In recent years, the National Parks Board (NParks) has stepped up enforcement efforts against illegal wildlife feeding.

According to NParks, the total number of illegal wildlife-feeding cases, where action was taken against offenders, has more than doubled – from close to 150 cases in 2021, to more than 380 cases in 2025, with the majority involving pigeon feeding.

Repeat offenders accounted for about 42 per cent of cases in 2025.

Between 2023 and 2025, on average, NParks received reports of nearly 320 cases of illegal bird feeding a year.

In a CNA report in March, Mr How Choon Beng, NParks’ group director for wildlife management, said that around half of these cases involved seniors aged 65 and above.

Several MPs who gave their views in Parliament on May 7 described seniors feeding wildlife as “a reflection of social isolation and a lack of purposeful engagement”.

Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim (East Coast GRC) and Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang GRC) asked if the Government would strengthen its partnership with social service agencies to engage residents, especially isolated seniors, on the consequences of wildlife feeding.

Ms Hazlina also asked if the Government would consider “engaging individuals through frequent home visits, counselling, finding alternative activities or interactions with family members or volunteers, so that the offenders would make themselves feel less socially isolated”.

Ms Elysa Chen (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) cited a recalcitrant bird feeder who told enforcement officers from the National Environment Agency that he continued to feed birds because his wife had appeared in a dream and told him to do so.

Dr Syed Harun told the House that his ministry’s approach is not merely to penalise.

“NParks also partners with the Agency for Integrated Care, town councils and other agencies to engage elderly offenders and those with mental health or psychology needs to understand their underlying needs and motivations that drive such behaviour, address misconceptions and raise awareness on the negative impacts of bird feeding,” Dr Syed Harun said.

He added that NParks offers wildlife feeders with mental health needs nature-based activities such as community gardening and birdwatching as alternatives to feeding.

The revised penalties will come into effect later in 2026.