Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on educating residents on appropriate response to wildlife sighted
Oct 10, 2016
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider making it mandatory to educate prospective or current residents of “nature-inspired” developments on the appropriate response to wildlife sighted in their areas and why members of the public should not feed wildlife.
Answer:
It is important to carefully manage human-wildlife interactions. In this regard, agencies like NParks and AVA are already taking active measures to do so.
First, NParks organizes biodiversity programmes like the Festival of Biodiversity and Community in Nature initiatives. Taken as a whole, these programmes help to generate public awareness of, and appreciation for, our native wildlife.
Second, agencies disseminate guidelines on how residents can minimize potential human-wildlife conflict, particularly in residential districts close to nature areas. For example, the guidelines touch on proper methods of securing trash bins and keeping food out of sight. Moreover, AVA officers conduct walkabouts in areas where residents have faced issues relating to animal nuisance. AVA officers also attend meetings to address residents’ concerns in these areas.
Third, NParks conducts specific outreach activities to discourage animal feeding. These include distributing advisory pamphlets to residents, conducting workshops for school children, and displaying prominent signage against wildlife feeding in parks and nature reserves.
That said, there will always be a small minority who persist in inappropriate behaviors like feeding. In these cases, a more targeted approach which may include official warnings or enforcement action is necessary.
Most residents who live close to nature areas behave very responsibly, have made adjustments, and appreciate the wildlife as part of their living environment. The Government will continue with its efforts to engage the broader community in public education initiatives, and to work constructively to address problems related to wildlife that might arise. With tolerance, understanding, and a spirit of compromise, most human-wildlife issues can be resolved.