Better Ways To Control Crow Numbers Than Culling Them, Says Acres After Bishan Crow Attacks

BETTER WAYS TO CONTROL CROWS THAN CULLING THEM

Our Co-CEO Anbarasi Boopal responded to CNA on the recent spate of crow ‘attacks’ in Bishan, and appealed for #Singapore to think of “better ways to treat animals” :

“…Crows are killed by placing them in plastic bags and pumping carbon dioxide into the bags, according to Ms Boopal. And this is “not humane euthanasia at all”, she said… “Using carbon dioxide in a plastic bag may be seen as a cost-effective way for contractors. However, the birds often suffer … and this method may be suggested only for emergency situations such as disease outbreaks for personnel safety.”

She appealed for Singapore to think of “better ways to treat animals”.

..ACRES’ Ms Boopal said while she empathises with those who have been attacked by crows, the birds are just defending their young and their nests. Crows are extra defensive when the fledgling is learning to fly, which usually takes a week.

People also often complain about the noise crows make, but there is a reason for this noise, Ms Boopal said.

“When crows congregate in the evenings … they often communicate with each other sharing information on roost sites and food sources nearby.”

In such cases, ACRES advises town councils to prune certain trees and modify perch sites such as open levels of multi-storey car parks. Intermediate measures include putting up mesh or nets. [to minimise inconvenience to residents adjacent to where the crows congregate]

But good wildlife management measures would not have an overnight impact, Ms Boopal said. Under ethical guidelines, humans should only intervene at the “animal level” – like removing or relocating them – as a last resort.

“Usually, it starts with human behaviour, infrastructure, when all these do not work then you interfere at the animals’ level,” she said.

“Often in urban cases like (Singapore), we tend to approach the animals’ level first. That’s why I’m happy that NParks is looking at habitat modification and all that but I hope that it will end this reactive removal and culling also.”

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/crow-culling-better-ways-control-acres-nparks-bishan-attack-3291266

#Crows

#Culling

#WildlifeManagement



After a pair of crows attacked pedestrians in Bishan last week, CNA spoke to wildlife experts about how the crow population in Singapore should be controlled.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/crow-culling-bette..

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ACRES

ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society) is a pioneering Singapore-based charity and Institution of Public Character, founded by Singaporeans in 2001 with the aim of promoting animal welfare.

ACRES has six focus areas: Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Wildlife Crime Investigation, Zoo Animal Welfare, Humane Education, Community Outreach and Promoting Cruelty-Free Living.

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