Lots of roaming chickens at Pasir Ris

[SBFNews]

Population of wild chickens at Pasir Ris Park estimated to be about 50: NParks
www.channelnewsasia.com

SINGAPORE: The wild chicken population at Pasir Ris Park is estimated to be about 50, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Monday (Nov 7).

Last week, Shin Min Daily News reported that an estimated 200 chickens were at the park, citing a frequent visitor who fed the chickens there.

NParks group director of parks Chia Seng Jiang provided the estimated figure in response to CNA's queries and added that wild chickens are a fixture in green spaces around the country.

"Free-ranging chickens can be seen in some of our parks and gardens, including Pasir Ris Park," Mr Chia said.

"There has always been a population of free-ranging chickens in Pasir Ris Park, especially near the mangrove area."

Mr Chia urged the public not to feed the wild chickens as it leads to overpopulation.

"Additionally, the feeding of all animals, including chickens, is prohibited in NParks-managed green spaces under the Parks and Trees Act," he said.

​

"Free-ranging chickens are capable of sourcing for food in their habitat and do not require food from humans to survive."

Leftover food from feeding can also attract pests, like rats, that carry diseases and pose a risk to public health, Mr Chia said.

He added that the public can also help to mitigate wild chicken population growth and congregation issues by ensuring that they dispose of food scraps properly.

In addition to its prohibition under the Parks and Trees Act, the feeding of wild animals is also prohibited under the Wildlife Act without the written approval of the director-general of wildlife management.

In his statement, Mr Chia said that NParks "takes a holistic community- and science-based approach towards management of animals, including free-ranging chickens".

This includes incorporating studies on understanding the population ecology of the birds, such as roosting and movement patterns.

NParks also looks at the risks that these animals might pose to public health and safety through the diseases they may carry,

Other measures include removing food sources made available by humans, educating the public on not releasing or feeding wild chickens, habitat modification and population control, Mr Chia said.

"There is no single management approach that will suit all issues related to free-ranging chickens," he added.

 

[glockman]

Population of wild chickens at Pasir Ris Park estimated to be about 50: NParks
www.channelnewsasia.com

SINGAPORE: The wild chicken population at Pasir Ris Park is estimated to be about 50, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Monday (Nov 7).

Last week, Shin Min Daily News reported that an estimated 200 chickens were at the park, citing a frequent visitor who fed the chickens there.

NParks group director of parks Chia Seng Jiang provided the estimated figure in response to CNA's queries and added that wild chickens are a fixture in green spaces around the country.

"Free-ranging chickens can be seen in some of our parks and gardens, including Pasir Ris Park," Mr Chia said.

"There has always been a population of free-ranging chickens in Pasir Ris Park, especially near the mangrove area."

Mr Chia urged the public not to feed the wild chickens as it leads to overpopulation.

"Additionally, the feeding of all animals, including chickens, is prohibited in NParks-managed green spaces under the Parks and Trees Act," he said.

​

"Free-ranging chickens are capable of sourcing for food in their habitat and do not require food from humans to survive."

Leftover food from feeding can also attract pests, like rats, that carry diseases and pose a risk to public health, Mr Chia said.

He added that the public can also help to mitigate wild chicken population growth and congregation issues by ensuring that they dispose of food scraps properly.

In addition to its prohibition under the Parks and Trees Act, the feeding of wild animals is also prohibited under the Wildlife Act without the written approval of the director-general of wildlife management.

In his statement, Mr Chia said that NParks "takes a holistic community- and science-based approach towards management of animals, including free-ranging chickens".

This includes incorporating studies on understanding the population ecology of the birds, such as roosting and movement patterns.

NParks also looks at the risks that these animals might pose to public health and safety through the diseases they may carry,

Other measures include removing food sources made available by humans, educating the public on not releasing or feeding wild chickens, habitat modification and population control, Mr Chia said.

"There is no single management approach that will suit all issues related to free-ranging chickens," he added.

KNN read your title and thought Pasir Ris has become another Geylang!

 

[SBFNews]

KNN read your title and thought Pasir Ris has become another Geylang!

Finally, I managed to click bait u

 

[glockman]

Finally, I managed to click bait u

 

[orpisia]

a lot

 

[ODACHEK]

 

[laksaboy]

Who was the one who allowed wild chickens (jungle fowls) to roam parks and HDB heartlands?

I have seen a swarm of those fowls taking over a petrol station.

Trying to artificially create a kampung atmosphere in an urban shithole?

 

[laksaboy]

KNN read your title and thought Pasir Ris has become another Geylang!

Downtown East is full of prostitutes. But must book a chalet first.

 

[glockman]

Downtown East is full of prostitutes. But must book a chalet first.

How to locate or contact these prostitutes? No need chalet, I can pitch a tent at the beach.

 

[metalrover]

 

[SBFNews]

On The Trail of The Red Junglefowl
www.nparks.gov.sg

For 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, My Green Space will feature different perspectives on local biodiversity. This article is part of a year-long series.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the Red Junglefowl is simply a chicken that happens to be living in the wild. After all, it looks very much like a regular domestic chicken! But the Red Junglefowl is actually the ancestor of all domestic chickens. This venerable chook is, however, endangered in Singapore.

The Red Junglefowl is found from the western Himalayas to Southern China, and throughout Southeast Asia. In Singapore, it is a threatened animal, and is on the 'Endangered' list in the Red Data Book. True wild populations have been recorded in Pulau Ubin since the 1980s, and in the Western Catchment since 2000. The population in Pulau Ubin is seen to be more viable.

Fowl Facts: Did You Know? - The Red Junglefowl is believed to have been domesticated thousands of years ago, for cockfighting and religious ceremonies. -The Red Junglefowl is usually found in a family group of up to 20 birds. Each group typically has one mature male, with a few females and juveniles. - Although many people believe that chickens can’t fly, the Red Junglefowl can fly for short distances. It roosts in trees to avoid predators.

Why is the Red Junglefowl endangered? One reason is the loss of its habitats: scrub, secondary forest, and mangroves. Many have fallen prey to unscrupulous poachers due to the bird's ground-dwelling habit. The Red Junglefowl population numbers are also further affected when the birds interbreed with domestic chickens.

Though the Red Junglefowl resembles domestic chickens physically, it is considerably bigger at 43 - 80 cm in length. The male has white facial lappets and a distinguishing white patch on the upper base of the tail, and a red comb on its head. Even his call is similar to the domestic male’s “cock-a-doodle-do”, but with the last note ending abruptly. The male and female both have grey legs and feet.

Besides the Red Junglefowl, there are three other species of Junglefowl: Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii), Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii), and Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius). All of these are from the pheasant family (Phasianidae), whose members also include turkey, peacock and quail.

At Pulau Ubin, NParks has been conducting surveys to estimate and monitor the population since 2005. Each survey sees staff and volunteers setting off to six sectors on the island at the same time, to record sightings and calls of the Red Junglefowl. For consistency in data collection, the surveys are repeated three times, at the same locations and at the same time of the day.

The three surveys conducted since 2005 have shown that the Red Junglefowl population has remained fairly consistent over the last four years. This is good news indeed for our fine, feathered friends of this endangered species – they remain protected in this habitat, where they can breed and thrive.

By Choi Yook Sau
Photos by Alan Tan

A male Red Junglefowl spreading his wings in flight.

Families of Red Junglefowl, foraging together on the beach

A pair of male and female Red Junglefowl. The male is recognisable by the red comb on its head and the white patch at its rump

 

[SBFNews]

So if you see the grey feet ones, they are endangered species. Cannot catch and cannot can eat don't waste OK.

 

[bushtucker]

Member of public reported 200 chickens.
Nparks declared 50 chickens.
Who is correct?

 

[laksaboy]

Member of public reported 200 chickens.
Nparks declared 50 chickens.
Who is correct?

It all depends on how you define a chicken.