Singaporean woman fined S$9,000 for repeated bird feeding offences
A 60-year-old Singaporean woman has been fined S$9,000 for repeatedly feeding pigeons across multiple locations, including her residential flat. Despite a previous conviction in April 2025, she continued the illegal activity citing a sense of compassion for the birds.
- A 60-year-old Singaporean woman pleaded guilty to six charges of illegally feeding wildlife with 11 additional charges taken into consideration.
- NParks noted the offences began just one month after a previous S$4,800 fine for similar acts.
- Prosecutors emphasised that pigeon droppings and feeding activities pose significant public health risks and attract disease-carrying pests.
A Singaporean woman has been ordered to pay a fine of S$9,000 by a court on 19 March 2026 after pleading guilty to six charges of illegally feeding wildlife. Yuen Li Shuen, 60, admitted to the offences which occurred between May and July 2025.
The court heard that another 11 charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
This latest legal action follows a previous conviction in April 2025, where Yuen was fined S$4,800 for similar activities involving the feeding of pigeons in public areas.
Previous conviction and repeat offences
According to the National Parks Board (NParks), Yuen resumed the illegal feeding of birds barely one month after her initial conviction.
Surveillance conducted by NParks officers caught her feeding pigeons in the Tanjong Pagar and Chai Chee districts on multiple occasions.
Tanjong Pagar Town Council initially reported that Yuen continued to feed the birds twice daily following her first court appearance.
During subsequent investigations, she admitted to knowing her actions were illegal but claimed she acted out of a sense of compassion.
The NParks prosecutor sought a higher penalty of S$1,500 per proceeded charge, noting an increase from the S$1,200 per charge imposed previously.
The prosecution argued that Yuen demonstrated clear recalcitrant behaviour by disregarding the law so soon after being sentenced.
The court was informed that feeding pigeons poses a genuine public health risk to the community.
Public health concerns linked to pigeon feeding
The NParks prosecutor explained that pigeons are known carriers of serious diseases and their droppings significantly contaminate the local environment and public infrastructure.
Furthermore, the act of leaving food for birds can attract other disease-carrying pests, such as rats and cockroaches.
Feeding from residential units is considered particularly problematic as it directly affects neighbours through bird flocks, droppings, and a higher likelihood of infestation.
The prosecution noted that residential feeding is also more difficult for authorities to detect.
This is because offenders are often partially concealed within their private homes while committing the acts, making monitoring and enforcement efforts more challenging for surveillance teams.
In her mitigation plea, Yuen stated only that she pleaded guilty to the charges. She requested to pay the S$9,000 fine in instalments.
The court granted her request to pay S$4,500 immediately, with the remaining balance due by May 2026.
As a repeat offender under the Wildlife Act, Yuen could have faced a maximum fine of up to S$10,000 for each charge of intentionally feeding wildlife. The current sentencing reflects the persistent nature of her violations over the three-month surveillance period.
Data from NParks indicates that illegal bird-feeding remains a consistent issue in the city-state.
Between 2023 and 2025, the board received reports of nearly 320 cases of illegal feeding annually, with older residents reportedly involved in approximately half of these incidents.
