Stop the CULLING of PIGEONS

An unpublished letter by a cat caregiver written on this day, 2 years ago:

Date: 27 September 2016 at 6:24:13 PM SGT
To: Voices
Subject: Stop the CULLING of PIGEONS. It is INEFFECTIVE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO PETS AND EVEN CHILDREN

On 27th September 2016 at 8.15am, on my way to work, I came across two Pest Controller Personnel at the back of a block of HDB flats, getting ready to poison pigeons.

I spoke to the Pest Controller Supervisor who agreed that poisoning the pigeons was ineffective and that the root problem was feeding by the residents, including food thrown from the flats. He said, "One Ah Pek just cycled here a while a ago to place a big bag of food for the pigeons." The Supervisor and his assistant both expressed uneasiness with the poisoning with visible sufferings of the pigeons when the poisons took effect. The Supervisor said, "What to do? We have to carry out orders from the town council."

I called the Town Council and spoke the Property Officer who gave the order for the task. The officer denied that he ordered poisoning and said that he just asked Pest Controller to institute "Preventive Measures". I am grateful to him for calling off the poisoning.

I have written to ACRES (http://www.acres.org.sg/) on this issue in 2013 and an email from Loius Ng (Founder and Chief Executive of ACRES) dated 21st February 2013 emphasizes on the following points:

1) Culling by poisoning is potentially dangerous to pets, wild animals and even children, who may consume the poisoned baits.

2) Culling the pigeons addresses only the symptoms of the problem. When culling is carried out on a pigeon population, the vacancies left by the dead birds are quickly filled by young birds. It has NO long-term effect.

3) The current expenditures on inhuman methods such as poisoning expended by the Town Council may not bring down the population, but in turn, increase over a period of time, increasing expenditures as well.

ACRES requested the Town Council to
1) Initiate a pilot project of using humane methods
2) Cease the current culling operations
3) Enforce action on feeding of pigeons by the public and
4) Raise awareness using pamphlets about total feeding ban.

I would like to call on the Town Council to educate all its property officers, especially the new ones, to stop poisoning the pigeons and to consult ACRES to resolve this problem effectively and stop risking the lives of children and pets to the poisons.


******************************************************************************************************

13h

You and 5 others manage the membership, moderators, settings and posts for Sayang Our Singapore's CommunHere’s the statement from ACRES:

Even though there are diseases that can be spread from consumption and direct inhalation of pigeon faeces, it is very rare and we do not know of any cases recorded in Singapore.

The possible transmission can be a result of poor hygiene and contact. Keeping food sources covered, windows clean and preventing direct contact from the faeces are some basic measures to prevent any infection. This should be done rather than culling.

Pigeons breed based on food availability and they naturally regulate their population based on food availability. Approximately 90% of the pigeons die in their first year, mainly due to lack of food. However, mortality rates of adult pigeons are very low (11%).

Pigeons do not breed if there is insufficient food to feed their young. In Singapore’s case, pigeons get additional food sources from humans directly feeding, and improper food waste management.

When the food supply increases following a cull, pigeons will breed until the flock reaches a threshold to exploit all available food. It is estimated that there is a 15%-30% increment in the flock size over and above the pre-cull population. �

Studies done by University of Basel, Integrative Biology research group clearly points out that culling is not recommended as a long-term solution, as it has no long-lasting effect on population size, but allows quick replacement of killed individuals.

Culling this way, without addressing the food, nesting and roosting site availability does not not solve the problem and will only resulting in a wastage of funds year after year because culling has aggravated the problem.

The research and success stories from other countries place emphasis on education and enforcement components as a way forward.

Culling is scientifically proven to be ineffective method and we also have to consider the welfare of the affected animals be it a pigeon, other birds, dog or cat. Other animals have also been affected by the culling (https://www.straitstimes.com/.../dog-dies-after-eating...).

ACRES hopes that we can adopt more holistic measures that will address public concerns about the pigeons and measures that are humane, sustainable and cost-effective. We hope to work with the authorities to implement these measures.

Better to 'cull' antisocial habits

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_750279.html

I TOTALLY agree with Mr Henry Ong's call for clearing of leftover food and used utensils ('Bird nuisance at hawker centres'; Thursday).

However, I disagree with his call for culling of the birds as it is not only ineffective and hence a waste of public funds, but is also extremely cruel. I have personally witnessed birds convulsing after eating bait laced with poison. My other concern is the danger of the poisoned bait to others like curious children or pet dogs.

According to the Animal Aid website: 'In areas where culling is carried out, there will be an initial reduction in pigeon numbers. However, this effect is very short term as the population will almost certainly have returned to or even exceeded the previous level within a few weeks. This is because pigeons control their own numbers according to the food source available.'

We need to 'cull' our antisocial personal habits by not leaving leftover food on the tables, by not throwing leftover food on the floor and learning to place our used utensils at collection points to facilitate rapid clearing by the cleaners.

We are at risk of contracting diseases from our fellow human beings who leave used tissue paper in bowls and cups in public eating places, cough and sneeze in public, and indulge in other unhygienic acts.

Stop blaming the birds.

The fault is ours and if we continue to deny that fact, we will never change.

Dr Tan Chek Wee

Bird KILLERS

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

All methods of culling involve cruelty and are a misuse of funds

Send this to your town council to STOP THE POISONING OF PIGEONS!

http://www.pigeoncote.com/vet/recovery/recovery.htm#RECOGNISING
CULLING

All methods of culling involve cruelty and are a misuse of funds because all they achieve are a temporary gap asking to be filled by other pigeons moving in from surrounding areas. After a cull, more food is available to those remaining; hence more pigeons are fit to breed and less succumb to infant mortality. With these advantages they can replenish their numbers at an astonishing degree, to again be the scapegoats for inefficiency, and victims of misguided priorities and wasted resources.

A given pigeon population will level off to a density rate that the food availability can sustain. When that point is reached, less robust pairs will not reproduce and natural losses tend to stabilize flock numbers. So basically, if left alone the flock will not grow ad infinitum, but regulate itself without the unnecessary savagery of drugs, falconry, traps and guns.

If their presence is justifiably unwanted, the only sure (and most humane) way to deter feathered opportunists is to reduce the amount of refuse we produce and net off roost sites. As long as mesh is maintained no pigeon should suffer, and the flock will be stronger and more resistant to disease. This solution is cheaper, permanent and does not employ armies of mercenaries who poison the public's mind with ill-informed scare-mongering propaganda merely to ensure an easy salary.

Too many people accept this ridiculous disregard for life and money, because they choose to believe 'experts' who have a vested financial interest in promoting deplorable myths about these birds.

What any honest vet will tell you is that feral pigeons are no more a risk to human health than any other bird or animal species and it is doubtful than any outbreak of ill-health has ever been traced to pigeons. Another common myth is that pigeon's droppings corrode buildings, but these droppings are neither acidic nor alkaline and cannot corrode building materials. But pigeons are a convenient visible target for anyone who would rather pin the blame on them rather than the sulphur dioxide of car exhausts and acid rain.

Devotees of a nearby temple feeds the birds as a gesture of reverence

Stop the Hunting of Crows in Singapore!

Yet the pigeons are poisoned by town councils to appease paranoia of birds and shooters from the Singapore Gun Club are paid to practise on shooting at nests with baby crows in them, awaiting for their mothers to return to feed them.

Petition: Stop Pigeon Culling (Singapore)

Stop Pigeon Culling (Singapore)

Target:

Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan, Town Councils, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, National Environment Agency

Sponsored by:

Ng Fangqi Akiko; http://savepigeons.blogspot.com/

We, the undersigned, appeal to you to review your method of controlling the pigeon population in Singapore.

Presently, pest controllers are engaged to poison the birds. This method should be abolished for the following reasons:

1. Studies have shown that not only does culling fail to reduce the pigeon population, it actually increases it. This is because pigeons control their population by the amount of food available. When food supply remains constant, surviving pigeons thrive and reproduce more.

2. Poisoned food for the pigeons may harm other animals and even children, who may unwittingly play with or even consume it.

3. It is a modern myth that pigeons are detrimental to human health. Chances of us being struck by lightning or getting diseases from eating farmed animals like chickens and pigs are much greater than getting ill through contact with pigeons. Pigeons, being revered as 'birds of peace', have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. If they truly are disease-carriers, our ancestors would not have engaged them as 'postmen'. Nor would pigeon racing have become a favourite sport.

4. We are outraged that our hard-earned money is spent on such a cruel and ineffective method. The money used to pay pest controllers should be channelled to wiser, kinder and more constructive purposes.

5. The sight of lives being killed can be extremely haunting to young children and may have very negative effects on their emotional health.

6. By killing living beings that are deemed a nuisance to us, we are inculcating our young with absolutely wrong values. We are encouraging intolerance and destroying seeds of compassion. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." The government wants Singapore to bloom into a gracious society, yet being the leader, it is doing exactly the opposite and advocating cruelty and barbarism.

It is obvious that the conceived pigeon problem stems from food available, not the pigeons themselves. Therefore, instead of killing the birds, we urge you to designate feeding areas and step up enforcement of the no-pigeon-feeding law in non-feeding areas:

a. Create zones where feeding is allowed.

b. Provide more prominent signages that advise against feeding of pigeons in non-feeding zones.

c. Assign personnel at reported hotspots to catch and fine feeders in the act.

d. Remind people that food should be disposed of properly so that it does not attract pigeons.

e. Post educational advertisements and reports in the papers on the issue.

Live and let live. Show the world that Singapore is not only a society advanced materially, it is also a land of greenery where its citizens live in harmony with nature and are caring towards weaker beings.

The government wants to promote active citizenry. Please do your part by listening to us when we do speak up. Please do the RIGHT thing and stop adopting the same old method that is easy but that has never worked.

(For more information on effective and humane pigeon control, please visit Pigeon Control Advisory Service @ http://www.picasuk.com/do_birds_spread_diseases.html)

Thank you for reading and we hope to see a positive change and a more compassionate leadership.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Culling is wrong

Straits Times Forum
Online Story
Mar 17, 2010
Culling is wrong

I REFER to Mr Tony Lee's letter on Sunday, "Town council right in culling pigeons".

The writer said: "The birds should feed and roost in trees and fields - where they belong."

My sentiments exactly. But how much of trees and fields have we left for them? We have destroyed so much of the natural habitat of animals and birds. Now we are labelling them pests and thinking of ways and means to drive them out.

The writer also asserted that "the lives of pigeons are precious, but the lives of human beings are more precious".

In response, I'd like to quote British philosopher Jeremy Bentham: "The question is not, 'Can they reason?' nor, 'Can they talk?' but rather, 'Can they suffer?'"

Akiko Ng (Ms)

Stop feeding the pigeons

Straits Times Forum
Online Story
Mar 17, 2010
Stop feeding the pigeons

I REFER to Mr Victor Looi's Forum Online letter, "Employ more humane culling methods" on Monday.

He said: "The fact that something has not happened does not mean it will not happen in future."

Based on his argument, we would probably have to cull all wildlife, for they too might spread diseases in the future. But obviously, this is illogical and ultra-inhumane.

If pigeons could spread disease, thousands of bird lovers all over the world would have been infected.

It is excessively harsh to exterminate pigeons just because they might pose a threat.

The more humane way to control the pigeon population is for the National Environment Agency and town councils to step up their "stop feeding pigeons" campaigns at void decks and hawker centres and educating residents, stall owners and their patrons to dispose of food properly.

Zhang Wei Ya (Ms)

Save the Pigeons (Singapore)

Why This Blog

2nd Feb 2010. I witnessed for the first time killing of innocent lives by the pest controllers. This was something I'd often heard about, but which I was blessed enough not to have seen with my own eyes.

I was walking home and saw at a distance a man picking something up from the ground. It looked like a bird, but the dark object didn't move, so I thought it was probably a bottle. He threw it into a black trash bag. In that instance out flew a bird from the bag.

I hastened towards the man and asked him what he was doing. He said the pigeons were a nuisance.

Nuisance?! The birds were a nuisance?

He told me it was ok, the birds were only sleeping.

I couldn't believe myself, even though I'd read enough of such nonsense logic on the internet. Soon another two men came, one of them who was supposedly in charge of the killing spree.

He told me he was sent by the town council, so I asked to speak to the town council. He called them, and later passed his mobile to me.

It was Ms Angeline Tan of Jalan Besar Town Council. Though not harsh, she was apparently defiant about their approach. She said they had received many complaints about the birds. I asked her a few times how many complaints they had received, she just wouldn't reveal the figure.

Very soon after starting the phone talk, I was crying uncontrollably. I knew crying would only irritate her more and wouldn't solve problems, but the sight of the poor birds hardly able to move and awaiting death, and being thrown into trash bags while still struggling for their dear lives, was something too much to bear. People are taking lives, and they are so numb to such a horrid act, this is indeed frightening.

After the phone talk, I noticed that a few people had gathered. One of them was an officer from NEA, and apparently was worried because I, a member of the public, was crying. He said he couldn't leave because it would be terrible if the public thought that pest controllers had made a resident cry. Well, that was the truth. If only crying would make the hard-hearted authorities more merciful!

This officer told me that things couldn't be helped. On one hand were animal lovers, on the other hand animal haters. As if this was a fact that had to be accepted.

But I thought this was pessimistic. I believe there is a way for all beings to co-exist in peace. Some day, people will come to their senses. I may not live to see the day, but one day, people will.

I came home feeling very lost and extremely disturbed. I could continue to keep an eye shut if I hadn't seen anything. But now that I saw such a cruel act first hand, it was time that I did something.

I decided to write a letter to residents appealing to them not to feed the birds. That was the first step. Then came emails to the authorities. Now, I'm compiling everything into this blog as a friend suggested. Letters, emails, thoughts, actions and everything.

I don't know how things would unfold, but at least, I've started to do something for my poor innocent friends. My dear fellow residents of good old mother earth.

8th March 2010

STOP KILLING THE PIGEONS!

Exert your right as a resident of your town council.
Send these letters to your town council and insist that it stops KILLING pigeons in response to complaints and explore humane methods of control!
Remember that the town councils are to SERVE every resident equally and not RULE over residents. They are to respect the wishes of residents who appeal for NO-KILL solutions and they must also NOT ASSume that every complainant of birds want them KILLED!
Look out for your respective town councils here and send off an email now.
http://app.sgdi.gov.sg/listing.asp?agency_subtype=dept&agency_id=0000007289

Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animals suffering? Because government is not. Why not? Animals don't vote.
~Paul Harvey

© ABC Radio Networks
Paul Harvey with his wife Angel and son Paul J


Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. The roots of cruelty, therefore, are not so much strong as widespread. But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come.
~Albert Schweitzer

We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.
~Albert Schweitzer, The Philosophy of Civilization


























































Un-published letter from ACRES:

I refer to the article “Shocked by pigeon culling? Then stop feeding them” (ST 28/2/10).
ACRES is concerned that poisoning is still being used as a way of culling pigeons, as poisoning tends to induce a slow and painful death for the birds, undoubtedly involving a great deal of suffering.
In addition to emphasising the point that culling the pigeons addresses only the symptom of the problem, and to address the problem at the root level it is essential to educate the public to stop making food accessible to pigeons, ACRES would also like to highlight the following points:
1.Culling by poisoning is potentially dangerous for pets, wild animals and even children who may consume the poisoned bait.
2.Alternative and humane methods of bird population control are available. Progressive vector control agencies, such as the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), have approved humane methods such as the contraceptive baits (Ovocontrol) for pigeon control since 2007.
3.As an alternative method of population control, Town Councils can consider providing Artificial Nesting Sites. Dovecotes or nesting boxes can be constructed and installed at a low, one-off cost at these sites. Once pigeons have been encouraged to roost in these sites, their eggs can be collected regularly and destroyed. This is a simple, fast and very effective way to reduce pigeon numbers. Another advantage of such Artificial Nesting Sites is that they provide a way to move pigeon flocks away from sites where they are considered a nuisance, to sites where they will pose no problems.
4.Even the life-death issue of bird strikes (collisions between aircraft and birds) are being managed humanely by the bird strike committees around the world, and poisoning of birds is not considered as a method of solving this serious problem. In 1999, the Bird Strike Committee in the U.S. recognised that "poisoning creates a serious environmental problem, as the entire domain, as well as other animals, can be affected by the toxic substance used. It is against our principals to use this method, and actually, it is illegal in most countries".
5.Scientific research has shown that culling is completely ineffective, as bird numbers can increase above pre-cull levels within weeks of the cull being carried out (Reference: Regulation of the Street Pigeon in Basel by Daniel Haag-Wackernagel. Article published in Wildlife Society Bulletin, 1995).
ACRES urges Town Councils to cease the current pigeon culling operations using poisoning, as they are inhumane, ineffective and costly (involving third parties), and instead explore more humane and effective methods of long-term pigeon population control.

Amy Corrigan (BSc)
Director of Education
Director of Cruelty-Free Living Campaigns
ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society)
www.acres.org.sg

91 Jalan Lekar
Singapore 698917
(O): +65 6892 9821
(F): +65 6892 9721
(HP): +65 8168 4355

ACRES: Pigeon Cullings

From: Amy (ACRES)
To:****
Sent: Wednesday, 3 March 2010 2:02:39
Subject: Re: Rallying support for helpless birds

Hi ***,

Yes, that's fine to post it on a blog.

Best wishes,

Amy

Amy Corrigan (BSc)
Director of Education
Director of Cruelty-Free Living Campaigns
ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society)
www.acres.org.sg

91 Jalan Lekar
Singapore 698917
(O): +65 6892 9821
(F): +65 6892 9721
(HP): +65 8168 4355

To whom it may concern,

We are writing in response to a recent spate of pigeon cullings along Tanglin Halt Road. From what we understand, the culling method currently being used is poisoning, i.e. laying bait of breadcrumbs with poison inserted.
On 24th August 2009, a member of the public called the ACRES 24-hour Wildlife Crime Hotline to ask us to rescue two pigeons who were dying a slow and painful death from being poisoned. Ultimately, these two pigeons needed to be euthanised to end their suffering. This is not the first time we have had to do the humane thing and euthanise poisoned pigeons.
Aside from the fact that poisoning is inhumane and would have caused a great deal of suffering to the pigeons, witnessing the pigeons’ intense suffering would have been greatly distressing for members of the public, especially children. Indeed, the caller mentioned above was obviously in great distress watching these birds suffer.
We do understand the Town Council’s concerns regarding the pigeons, especially the cost of cleaning their droppings, and we applaud the efficiency which the Town Council has responded to some of the residents’ feedback regarding the overpopulation of the pigeons. However, there are residents who disagree with the strategy and methods used to control the pigeon population, with both the welfare of humans and animals in mind.
In this context, ACRES is deeply concerned about this inhumane pigeon culling practice and would like to emphasise the following points:
1.Culling by poisoning is potentially dangerous for pets, wild animals and even children who may consume the poisoned bait. Reports of dead bird sightings for other species, such as mynas and koels, who are suspected to have been poisoned, have been posted on online blogs and forums by concerned members of public.
2.Culling the pigeons addresses only the symptoms of the problem. To address at the root level, there is a need to question the continued presence of a large population of pigeons in spite of the culling. According to AnimalAid, U.K., “pigeons control their own numbers according to the food source available. Approximately 90% of pigeons die in their first year and the main cause of death is starvation. The mortality rate of adult pigeons is very low, typically around 11%. Therefore when culling is carried out on a pigeon population, the vacancies left by the dead birds are quickly filled by young birds. This means that killing adult pigeons in a flock discriminates in favour of young birds who would otherwise have perished. It has no long-term effect on the level of population, as it merely rejuvenates the flock.” This clearly indicates that in Singapore the large pigeon population is being maintained by large quantities of food being made available to pigeons by the public. Therefore, it is essential to educate the public to stop making food accessible to pigeons. A successful publicity campaign would result in a large reduction in the food available to pigeons and potentially impose a very effective limit to their population size.
3.Alternative and humane methods of bird population control are available. Progressive vector control agencies like the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have approved humane methods such as the contraceptive baits (Ovocontrol) for pigeon control since 2007. (Reference: New contraceptive bait approved for pigeons, Human Wildlife Conflicts 2007, 1 (2), page 134, Human–Wildlife Conflicts 3(1):93–102, Spring 2009.)
4.Even the life-death issue of bird strikes (collisions between aircraft and birds) are being managed humanely by the bird strike committees around the world, and poisoning of birds is not considered as a method of solving this serious problem. In 1999, the Bird Strike Committee in the U.S. recognised in its proceedings at University of Nebraska, that "poisoning creates a serious environmental problem, as the entire domain, as well as other animals, can be affected by the toxic substance used. It is against our principals to use this method, and actually, it is illegal in most countries".
There are several published studies discussing humane measures to manage pigeon population in urban areas (references attached).
For instance, the Town Council can consider providing Artificial Nesting Sites. Dovecotes or nesting boxes can be constructed and installed at a low, one-off cost. Once pigeons have been encouraged to roost in these sites, their eggs can be collected regularly and destroyed. This is a simple, fast and very effective way to reduce pigeon numbers. Another advantage of dovecotes or nesting boxes is that they provide a way to move pigeon flocks away from sites where they are considered a nuisance, to sites where they will pose no problems. Designated feeding areas can then be set up for public use.
We strongly urge the Town Councils to cease the current pigeon culling operations, as they are not only cost-ineffective, requiring repeated engagement of third parties, but modern scientific research has shown that culling is completely ineffective as bird numbers can increase above pre-cull levels within weeks of the cull being carried out (Reference: Regulation of the Street Pigeon in Basel by Daniel Haag-Wackernagel. Article published in Wildlife Society Bulletin, 1995). First and foremost, we ask the Town Councils to stop the poisoning of pigeons as a matter of urgency, on humane grounds.
We would be glad to meet up with you to further discuss the issues raised, and we would welcome the opportunity to work with the Town Councils to come up with a humane, more cost-efficient and more effective method of controlling the pigeon population in Singapore on a long-term basis.

Have some compassion for pigeons

Please email this letter to your town council.
Search for your town council here...

The Straits Times
ST Forum
Feb 12, 2010
Have some compassion for pigeons

RECENTLY, I witnessed the agonising deaths of many pigeons in my neighbourhood. They were killed by a pest control company with poisoned food. Such cases happen regularly. I am writing in the hope of raising general awareness on this.

To pigeon lovers, for the sake of the birds, please do not feed them. Overpopulation of pigeons poses a problem to some residents who may complain to the town council, which will engage pest controllers to poison the pigeons.

To non-pigeon lovers, I seek your kind understanding that all that the pigeons want is to live and eat, as we humans do. Although some of us may not like birds and animals, I believe we do not want to pass a death sentence on them. Please think twice before making a complaint.

To town council officers, I implore you to choose the compassionate and wise option of educating the public instead of taking the easy way out that is violent and only temporary. Posters can be put up to remind people not to feed the birds, and to inform them what happens when the birds overpopulate. When I called to ask how many complaints were lodged on the birds, the officer simply told me repeatedly she could not reveal that, an answer I failed to understand.

According to the Pigeon Control Advisory Service (www.picasuk.com), 'conventional pest control options such as lethal control have simply acted to increase pigeon numbers, not reduce them'. Poisoning the birds also poses a threat to the safety of young children and pets, as they may unwittingly play with or even consume the leftover poisoned food. A long-term solution to curb the population is to refrain from feeding them and dispose of food waste properly.

To quote Mahatma Gandhi, 'the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man'.

Akiko Ng (Ms)

An ineffective, cruel method

TODAY
An ineffective, cruel method
05:55 AM Dec 24, 2009
Letter from Bernard Tan Hock Heng

LAST Friday, as I was walking by the field beside Block 51, Sims Drive, I was horrified to see several pigeons convulsing.

I spoke to someone named Mr Pang who was there (most likely a pest control officer) who said that the pigeons were a nuisance. He then directed a worker to collect the pigeons - who were still alive - and put them into a yellow plastic bag.

Some children witnessed the scene and horror and fright were reflected in their expressions.

The next morning, I saw several pigeons still convulsing on the field.

According to this website http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/*/CAMPAIGNS/wildlife/ALL/348/:

"In areas where culling is carried out, there will be an initial reduction in pigeon numbers.

"However, this effect is very short term as the population will almost certainly have returned to or even exceeded the previous level within a few weeks.

"This is because pigeons control their own numbers according to the food source available."

Clearly such culling is not only ineffective but also cruel. It also puts pet dogs at risk of eating poisoned bait. The bait also poisons our environment.

As a resident of the Aljunied Town Council, I object to such an ineffective and cruel method of controlling the pigeon population and insist on humane management.

URL http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC091224-0000040/An-ineffective,-cruel-method

Adopt a more humane method to control pigeon population

Straits Times Forum
Online Story
Dec 21, 2009
Adopt a more humane method to control pigeon population

LAST Friday at 4pm, I was walking past the field beside Block 51 Sims Drive where I live when I was horrified to see several pigeons convulsing. I spoke to a pest control man there named Mr Pang, who said the pigeons were a nuisance. He then told a worker to collect the still alive pigeons and put them in a yellow plastic bag.

Some children who witnessed the scene were visibly disturbed with the horror writ large on their faces.

The following morning, there were still several pigeons convulsing in the field.

Clearly such culling is not only ineffective but cruel. It also puts pet dogs at risk of eating the poisoned bait, and the poisons pollute the environment.

I urge the authorities to adopt a more humane method to manage the population of pigeons.

Bernard Tan

Feedback to the Aljunied Town Council

or send an email to
MDM CYNTHIA PHUA
Job Title : CHAIRMAN - CHAIRMAN
DID : 67441033
Email: CYNTHIA.PHUA@ALJUNIEDGRC.ORG.SG
Unit: ALJUNIED TOWN COUNCIL (ATC)
Parent: TOWN COUNCILS (TC)
Organisation: MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (MND)
Description: Constituency: Aljunied GRC

Facebook: Appeal to the town councils to STOP POISONING PIGEONS

Read http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/wildlife/ALL/348/

Cleaner asked for copies of this poster

See this posting



























This evening at 7.30pm I showed the cleaner the above poster pasted on the notice board and I also told him that the poster was also inserted into the lower floor flats. He was impressed that the areas behind the kitchens were relatively much cleaner now. He asked for copies of poster to place at the adjacent blocks.

Please feel free to print this poster and paste it on your block's notice board.

It is doubtful that any town council would want to publicly declare that it poisons
pigeons!

Similarly the town council will not inform residents who have issues with cats thatthe pest controllers would trap the cats in the vicinity of the complaint to be killed at the AVA. Most people still have enough "humane-ness" in them to with-draw their complaints if they knew that cats would be killed.

Why are the town councils unwilling to tell the residents the truth!? That they have and will kill pigeons, crows and cats! Shame? Guilt? Or plain laziness to explore alternative humane solutions?

Day 3: Still no food thrown down

See this posting

Aljunied Town Council needs to be educated to put up more appropriate posters

Seen at Block 116 Bedok Reservoir Road today.

Residents of Aljunied Town Council have the right to request that these posters be used:

Day 2 of "Do not throw food for pigeons" poster and flyers

See this posting
Photo at 7.10pm: no thrown down food.

Educating Residents with FACTS (not with health scare tactics)!

There were french fries too but they were eaten up by the pigeons by the time this photo was taken.

Town Councils should STOP lumping CATS and PIGEONS togther

In a block of HDB flats in Mei Ling Street.















































Town councils like this one is still too arrogant to admit cats and pigeons must be managed separately.

For pigeons, stop the food source i.e. human littering.

For cats

• Neutering
• Educate feeders to be responsible (Responsible Feeding)
• Nip abandomnent, such as Repeal HBD Ban on Cats , availability to low cost sterilisation, intensive public education on the sufferings that result from abandonment on TV channels such as Suria.

Town councils should consult the Cat Welfare Society and the SPCA on more appropriate posters to put in notice boards of HDB blocks.

Anyone who resides under Tanjong Pagar Town Council can provide feedback here to request for more appropriate posters to replace this one.