Petition calls for end to crow shooting in S’pore, urges ‘humane alternatives’: ‘Give crows a voice’
A petition calling for an end to the shooting of crows in Singapore has been started on Change.org by someone identifying themselves as “A Concerned Singaporean”.
The culling of crows by shooting, as a means of managing the population, resumed at the end of March after a six-year hiatus.
The petition, titled “Stop the culling of crows in Singapore”, was shared on the public Facebook group, STOP Animal Abuse in SG, and on Reddit.
It focuses on shooting as a method of culling, describing it as “harmful, unnecessary, and unkind”, adding that “humane alternatives exist”.
“We can manage habitats, control waste, and use non-lethal methods to reduce conflicts without resorting to shooting,” says the petition’s statement.
It also argues that the presence of crows is largely due to human activity and not the fault of crows, which are simply adapting to the environment.
“We urge the authorities to stop shooting crows and adopt coexistence-focused solutions that reflect Singapore’s commitment to protecting wildlife. Protecting crows is a reflection of our compassion and respect for nature,” it adds.
To date, the petition has garnered 2,178 signatures.
Supporters say humans are the problem
Some Facebook users who supported the petition said human behaviour was the root cause.
“Unfortunately, humans are the worst,” wrote a Facebook user.
“80% of our people literally have zero respect and knowledge on wildlife. School should start education on this!,” another said. “They definitely do not attack people out of nowhere. Humans are overrated and overpopulated as well so we cull?”
Others shared their own experience of living peacefully with crows.
“Crows don’t attack unprovoked. We have been exercising at our usual location with the crows flying around about one metre from us for years. Usually, about a dozen of them. No issue at all,” one netizen said.
Others, however, agreed that the crow population needs to be controlled, with some suggesting their neighbourhoods be included in the culling exercise. Some also shared experiences of being attacked.
Authorities cite rise in crow attacks
National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said on Feb 23 that the decision to resume the shooting of crows was made after alternative population control methods proved inadequate, amid a rise in reports of crow attacks.
Other measures include removing nests, deploying traps and pruning trees to reduce the number of birds that roost there.
“If the crow population continues to grow, it will affect the safety of our residents,” he said.
According to NParks’ population survey, there were about 160,000 house crows in Singapore in 2024, up from around 7,290 recorded on mainland Singapore in 2016.
Crow-related complaints have surged, tripling from nearly 5,000 in 2020 to about 15,000 in 2025, according to Mr Chee, while reports of attacks rose from more than 460 to over 2,000.
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