The Penang Island City Council culled 4,135 birds comprising 2,762 crows and 1,373 pigeons in July, according to The Sun Malaysia. Another 225 crow nests were destroyed to curb breeding and reduce the risk of further increases in the pest bird population.
The operations were carried out at locations identified as having high bird populations based on public complaints, routine monitoring and council technical assessments. The council said the work is aimed at reducing the risk of contamination from bird droppings, preventing property damage, nuisance to the public and curbing the potential spread of diseases that could affect public health. The 225 nests destroyed in July nearly quadrupled the 59 taken down in June, pointing to a more aggressive approach against breeding sites.
July’s numbers mark a dip from the previous month. The council culled 5,495 birds in June, comprising 3,048 crows and 2,447 pigeons, with 59 crow nests destroyed, The Star reported. The smaller nest destruction count in June suggests the programme has been chipping away at established breeding sites.
The latest figures follow a sharp crackdown on enforcement. In June, the council issued 21 compounds to individuals caught feeding birds in public places. The crackdown came as amendments to the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, which took effect on 1 July, allow courts to impose Community Service Orders of up to 12 hours on those convicted of feeding birds in public areas. Offenders also face compounds of up to RM2,000, with non-compliance carrying fines of RM2,000 to RM10,000.
Despite the escalation, animal welfare advocates have questioned the council’s approach. On 11 June, Lawyers for Animal Rights urged the council to suspend its bird-culling operations, citing concerns over animal welfare, public safety and the use of lethal methods in urban areas. The group called for non-lethal alternatives including improved waste management, habitat modification and reproductive control.
The culling programme has run for nearly three decades. Councillor Darren S.W. Lee told Buletin Mutiara, the Penang state government’s official portal, that the council has culled 166,211 crows since the programme began in 1998.
The council said it remains committed to carrying out pest bird control operations responsibly, while balancing environmental conservation with public health interests. It urged the public to stop feeding pigeons in public areas and to report affected locations through its official complaint channels.
