S'porean woman, 60, fined S$9,000 for feeding pigeons 17 times, previously fined S$4,800 in 2025

A 60-year-old Singaporean woman was fined S$9,000 by a court on Mar. 19, 2026, for illegally feeding pigeons 17 times in public and from her flat.

Yuen Li Shuen said she continued feeding the birds out of "compassion", CNA reported.

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, she pleaded guilty to six charges under the Wildlife Act, with another 11 charges taken into consideration.

'Clear recalcitrant behaviour'

Yuen had previously been fined S$4,800 in April 2025, also for feeding pigeons.

Following this, Tanjong Pagar Town Council reported that she continued feeding them twice daily, according to CNA.

Yuen was then spotted feeding pigeons in Tanjong Pagar and Chai Chee multiple times between May and July 2025 when the National Parks Board (NParks) conducted surveillance to monitor her feeding.

She admitted to her acts during investigations, acknowledging that she knew feeding wildlife was an offence.

The NParks prosecutor sought a fine of S$9,000 for Yuen, at S$1,500 per proceeded charge, an increase from the S$1,200 per proceeded charge meted out in her last conviction.

She said Yuen had resumed feeding pigeons shortly after her conviction, demonstrating "clear recalcitrant behaviour", according to CNA.

Public health risk

Adding that Yuen's actions carried a public health risk, the prosecutor noted that pigeons carry serious diseases and their droppings contaminate the environment.

The feeding can also attract disease-carrying pests.

In addition, the prosecutor said feeding pigeons from a residential unit directly affects neighbours through bird flocks and droppings, with a high likelihood of pest infestation and disease transmission.

Residential feeding is also harder to detect since offenders are partially concealed in their homes, she added.

Penalties

In mitigation, Yuen said only that she pleaded guilty, CNA reported.

She asked to pay in instalments and was allowed to pay S$4,500 up front and the rest by May.

For each charge of intentionally feeding wildlife, she could have been fined up to S$10,000 as a repeat offender.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News, Canva