Singapore is preparing to reinstate crow shooting measures after more than six years of suspension due to a rise in the crow population and a significant increase in crow attacks on people, which are several times higher than before the measures were halted.
On Monday, 23 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development, revealed that the National Parks Board (NParks) announced it will resume crow control measures "by shooting" starting in the latter half of March.
This decision came after the Ministry of National Development consulted with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Singapore Police Force. The crow shooting operation had been suspended in 2020 following an incident where officers accidentally fired towards residential homes.
However, Mr. Chee stated that since then, other methods to manage the crow population—such as trapping and relocating crows, dismantling nests, and enhancing efforts to reduce human-generated food sources—have proven insufficient if not used in combination.
"In 2025 alone, municipal service offices received about 15,000 complaints about crows, which is three times more than in 2020," Mr. Chee said, adding that reports of crow attacks have also increased fourfold, exceeding 2,000 incidents in the same year.
"If the crow population continues to grow, it will impact residents' safety due to more frequent attacks," Mr. Chee said. "Therefore, I have instructed NParks to reinstate crow shooting as one of the methods to reduce the crow population in Singapore."
Mr. Chee acknowledged that the shooting operation carries some risk as it involves shotguns. Thus, shooters must strictly follow safety protocols, such as firing only upwards, cordoning off the operation area with clear warning signs, and deploying sufficient security personnel to prevent unauthorized access during the operation.
NParks disclosed that the crow shooting will be conducted by licensed wildlife management contractors who are specifically certified in firearm use.
NParks also reported that in 2025, nearly 9,000 crow nests were dismantled across the island, a significant increase compared to just over 600 nests removed in 2021. Additionally, the number of crows trapped and relocated rose from about 1,800 in 2021 to more than 13,000 in 2025.
The problematic bird species in Singapore is the "House crow" (Corvus splendens), an invasive non-native species that negatively impacts local biodiversity.
These crows adapt easily to urban environments and have a strong instinct to protect their young, often attacking immediately if they sense their offspring are threatened.
. . .cna