What started as a wing-sical delight has turned "fowl". A Pasir Ris resident is getting concerned about the growing population of free-roaming chickens in the area. "As a long-time resident of Pasir Ris, I have always enjoyed the charm of Sea Shell Park," said Stomper Derrick .
"However, what used to be a pleasant sight of a few free-roaming chickens has now turned into a significant concern due to their overpopulation." He is not the only one to notice the proliferation of chickens in Pasir Ris recently. TikToker badgalchenchen made the same observation in a video in April.
"They are literally everywhere I go and I swear I saw up to 100 chickens," she said, adding that she saw only two or three chickens just a year earlier. @badgalchenchen Pasir ris Chicken Galore. Whywhywhy #singaporetiktok #pasirrispark #chickens #pasirris ♬ original sound - badgalchenchen - chenchentv | travel, hikes The Stomper said: "Initially, seeing a few chickens was delightful, but now their numbers have multiplied to the point where it's becoming problematic.
"The roosters' early morning crowing has become a daily disturbance, making it hard to get a good night's sleep. The chickens have also been foraging in the park's flower beds and causing considerable damage to the plants and the overall landscape. "This is disheartening, especially for those of us in the community who have put in a lot of effort to maintain the park's beauty.
" The Stomper also highlighted public health and safety concerns. "The chickens might carry diseases, and their droppings are becoming a hygiene issue," he said. "It's troubling to think that it might not be safe for children to play in the park due to the increasing presence of chicken droppings.
" The Stomper added: "While I do appreciate the presence of wildlife in our urban environment, there needs to be a balance. "The sight of free-roaming chickens can be pleasant, but not when it disrupts the peace and cleanliness of our community." How did it get to this point? Back in March 2017, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) told The Straits Times that it had been receiving feedback about the "growing free-roaming chicken population" in Pasir Ris since January 2016.
AVA was concerned that the chickens could pose a threat to public health in the event that bird flu is brought here by migratory birds. But when AVA culled the birds the Sungei Api Api area in Pasir Ris, residents there cried foul. One said that without the chickens, the "kampung atmosphere" of the estate is gone.
AVA has since become part of National Parks Board (NParks) in 2019. Fast-forward to July 2023 when the growing complaints about the growing number of chickens were heard. NParks group director of wildlife management, Dr Adrian Loo, told The Straits Times that in Housing Board estates, it was up to town councils to oversee the management of free-ranging chickens.
“As the issues faced in residential estates are usually localised in nature, NParks supports and advises the relevant partners within each area that receive feedback about free-ranging chickens,” said Dr Loo. He added that NParks would also work with grassroots organisations to come up with best practices to manage the chicken population, such as advising residents against feeding them and sharing information to reduce roosting sites. Stomp has contacted Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council for more info.
Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on Facebook , WhatsApp , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube . Download the new STOMP app today..
