Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on culling of animals

Feb 20, 2017

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) how many residents have complained about the free-ranging chickens at Sin Ming; 

(b) what percentage of residents living around Thomson View and Blocks 452 to 454 Sin Ming Avenue have complained about the chickens; 

(c) whether AVA has considered asking people to adopt the chickens or other more humane alternatives; and 

(d) whether AVA will set a threshold in terms of the number of complains and complainants before culling other chickens or animals. 

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) at which point does AVA decide to cull populations of wildlife in an area due to public complaints; 

(b) whether the AVA consults and communicates with residents living with the wildlife in their midst, wildlife experts and other stakeholders in making the decision; and 

(c) how does AVA ensure that the culling does not affect similar but endangered or indigenous species of wildlife.

Answer:

AVA is the designated government agency that responds to all public complaints about animals. While AVA responds to such public feedback, its actions are guided by a professional assessment of the risks that these animals might pose to public health and safety. In other words, when the feedback is received, AVA conducts surveillance to determine the actual situation on the ground. If there are no significant public health risks or safety concerns, AVA will advise public feedback providers on ways to mitigate such issues. This could include removing food sources within properties – for example, that might attract the animals, or animal proofing the homes, or even pruning vegetation within the vicinity of the area of complaint. 

In the case of free-roaming chickens near Sin Ming Avenue, AVA found, on surveillance, that the population had more than doubled to 50 birds. Studies have shown that chickens are more susceptible to the bird flu virus, as compared to other birds like pigeons. In other words, there is a higher risk of free-roaming chickens being exposed and infected with bird flu virus from migratory wild birds, which are often reservoirs for the bird flu virus. There is also scientific evidence that chickens can in turn transmit the disease to humans, creating a zoonotic disease. In fact, the World Health Organisation, or the WHO, reported that the majority of human cases of bird flu infection have been associated with contact with infected live or dead poultry, including chickens. That is why AVA felt that it had to take action to manage the chicken population in Sin Ming. Unfortunately, AVA’s actions were perceived to be motivated solely by noise concerns, which is not the case. Now that said, AVA acknowledges that engagement and communications with residents and other stakeholders on this issue ought to have been better managed. 

Some have suggested that the chickens could be re-located to the wild, for example in places like Pulau Ubin or other forested areas. But the chickens in the Sin Ming area, and in most of our urban settings actually, are highly unlikely to be of native stock and are therefore different from our indigenous breed of the Red Jungle Fowl, which is an endangered species known to occur only in Pulau Ubin and as well as our Western Catchment area. These chickens were most brought in by humans at some point, perhaps to be raised as pets. So releasing the free-ranging chickens into the wild can adversely affect the stock of the native species genetically, especially if there is inter-breeding that takes place thereafter. 

The community also plays an important role in helping to achieve harmonious human-animal interactions. The reality is that there is often a lack of natural predators in any urban eco-system such as Singapore. So the delicate balance of nature does not always function in a predominantly urban setting. In this regard, we all need to act responsibly by not feeding wildlife. Such a practice further disturbs the balance in the ecosystem and will invariably increase human-wildlife contact, and then subsequently, to conflict. It will also potentially increase the risk of human-animal cross-transmission of diseases. We should also refrain from abandoning our pets as not only is it cruel and against the law, but it is also a cause of imbalance, and has adverse impact on our native wildlife population. 

At the same time, AVA is continuing to undertake research with academics, wildlife experts, and other public agencies to find the best ways to manage the population of free-ranging chickens and other birds. For example, in January 2016, AVA initiated a study with the National University of Singapore (NUS) to better understand the ecology and population of selected bird species in Singapore. One of the bird species that this study is focusing on is the free-ranging chickens. 

Through these research studies and public engagement efforts, AVA aims to strengthen its capabilities and develop more effective science-based methods to manage the animal population in our midst. AVA will also involve different stakeholders, including the community and animal welfare groups, in exploring various approaches and solutions. Culling will only be done as a very last resort. Ultimately, we want to thrive as a City in a Garden, living in harmony with nature, and enjoying the flora and fauna around us.