Singapore's National Parks Board hangs fake crows to spook the real ones after dive-bombing attacks
SINGAPORE, May 31 — In trees across Singapore, plastic crows are playing dead — and it's all part of a bold new strategy to outsmart some of the smartest birds around.
According to The Straits Times, these lifeless-looking decoys, strung upside down from branches, are part of a National Parks Board (NParks) trial aimed at shooing off house crows, a highly intelligent and invasive species known for their noisy gatherings and the occasional aerial ambush on unsuspecting pedestrians.
'The effigies are placed at roost sites and positioned to resemble dead crows,' How Choon Beng, NParks' group director of wildlife management, reportedly said.
'The aim is to create a perception of danger and encourage the roosting crows to disperse to other locations.'
It might sound like a scene from a Hitchcock film, but it's rooted in science.
Studies from the United States have shown that crows, unnerved by the sight of one of their own hanging lifeless, tend to scatter — sometimes for good.
Back in 2005, researchers from the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services tried the same trick in Pennsylvania, where up to 40,000 crows once roosted.
By suspending crow effigies from tree branches, they managed to break up the massive gatherings over two winters. The tactic worked well — at least for a while.
In Singapore, NParks has deployed 15 plastic crows at eight known trouble spots since late 2023.
The effigies typically hang around for about two weeks at a time.
One was spotted in April outside Katong V mall, complete with a sign that reassured passers-by: 'This is a plastic crow. Please do not be alarmed.'
It's a response to growing public frustration.
NParks received nearly 7,000 crow-related complaints annually in 2023 and 2024, with gripes ranging from screeching wake-up calls to full-on bird attacks.
One of the most notorious incidents occurred in Bishan in early 2023, when at least 10 people were harassed by dive-bombing crows in under 20 minutes.
Crow aggression typically spikes during fledgling season between May and June, when adult birds become fiercely protective of their young. It's also when the calls for intervention grow louder.
Effigies are NParks' latest addition to a broader, science-based game plan. Other measures include nest removal, food source management, habitat tweaks, and, in some cases, trapping.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Snakes on a plane: Indian customs nab passenger with 44 venomous vipers from Thailand
MUMBAI, June 2 — A passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers was stopped after flying into the financial capital Mumbai from Thailand, Indian customs officials said. The snakes, which included 44 Indonesian pit vipers, had the snakes 'concealed in checked-in baggage', Mumbai Customs said in a statement late Sunday. 'An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested,' it added. The passenger, details of whom were not released, also had three Spider-tailed horned vipers -- which are venomous, but usually only target small prey such as birds — as well as five Asian leaf turtles. Mumbai Customs issued photographs of the seized snakes, including blue and yellow reptiles squirming in a bucket. The snakes are a relatively unusual seizure in Mumbai, with customs officers more regularly posting pictures of hauls of smuggled gold, cash, cannabis or pills of suspected cocaine swallowed by passengers. However, in February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, were 'ingeniously concealed' in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said. In November, customs officers seized a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles, and a month before, four hornbill birds, all on planes arriving from Thailand. In September, two passengers were arrested with five juvenile caimans, a reptile in the alligator family. — AFP
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Blue Launches New Brand Campaign
Humorous Presentation of 'Self-Service Insurance, Simplifying Complexity' Spotlight on Term Life Protection with 'Guaranteed Lowest Price in Town' Blue, the first digital life insurer in Hong Kong, has launched its latest brand campaign with the slogan 'Choose Blue, insurance is that simple'. The campaign kicks off with a video advertisement that humorously illustrates how Blue's online insurance solutions simplify complexity, making it easy for customers to get insured. Blue 'WeCare Term Life Protection Plan TL3' promises customers the lowest price in town for the life protection. Highly cost-effective life protection: Guarantees the lowest premium in town for the first benefit term. With a simple and straightforward plan that does not involve a savings component, for up to a maximum coverage amount of HK$5.5 million. Moreover, the premium is guaranteed to remain unchanged during the same premium payment period. Guarantees the lowest premium in town for the first benefit term. With a simple and straightforward plan that does not involve a savings component, for up to a maximum coverage amount of HK$5.5 million. Moreover, the premium is guaranteed to remain unchanged during the same premium payment period. Covers Hypertension and High Cholesterol: No additional health proof required; even high blood pressure and high cholesterol are covered², and the coverage amount or benefits will not be affected by changes in the insured person's health condition. No additional health proof required; even high blood pressure and high cholesterol are covered², and the coverage amount or benefits will not be affected by changes in the insured person's health condition. Guaranteed Policy Renewal: Guarantees automatic renewal³ of the policy, ensures continuous coverage without gaps. Guarantees automatic renewal³ of the policy, ensures continuous coverage without gaps. Flexible benefit terms: Policy periods are at 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 years or up to age 65 respectively, allowing customers to choose the insurance plan that best suits their needs. Policy periods are at 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 years or up to age 65 respectively, allowing customers to choose the insurance plan that best suits their needs. Easy Application & Management: Customers only need to answer a few simple health questions and can complete the application in as little as 5 minutes — quick and easy, eliminating the hassle of complicated life insurance procedures. WeCare Term Life Protection Plan TL3 : 60% off first-year premium, 40% off second year, plus up to HK$800 supermarket vouchers and HK$100,000 personal accident coverage. : 60% off first-year premium, 40% off second year, plus up to HK$800 supermarket vouchers and HK$100,000 personal accident coverage. WeCare Critical Illness Protection Plan 1 : 60% off first-year premium, 40% off second year, plus up to HK$600 vouchers and HK$100,000 accident coverage. : 60% off first-year premium, 40% off second year, plus up to HK$600 vouchers and HK$100,000 accident coverage. WeCare Personal Accident Protection Plan 1 : HK$1 million coverage with HK$200 voucher. : HK$1 million coverage with HK$200 voucher. WeMedi Outpatient Protector : First-year premium HK$388 (original HK$488), plus HK$200 voucher. : First-year premium HK$388 (original HK$488), plus HK$200 voucher. WeMedi HK Dental Protector D2 : First-year premium HK$1,688 (original HK$1,988), plus HK$800 voucher. : First-year premium HK$1,688 (original HK$1,988), plus HK$800 voucher. WeCare Flexible Term Life Plan TF1: 60% off first-year premium, 40% off second year, plus up to HK$800 supermarket vouchers and HK$100,000 personal accident coverage. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 June 2025 - Blue, Hong Kong's first digital life insurer, today unveiled its latest brand campaign, continuing the tagline "Choose Blue, insurance is that simple". The campaign uses humor to illustrate how Blue simplifies complex insurance processes through its online platform. The ads highlight Blue's simple and flexible protection plans, empowering customers to self-serve with ease — truly making life simpler with campaign features two ad versions — "Savage Mother-in-law" and "Shy Bestie" (available on Blue's YouTube channel: ). Set in what appears to be a casual dinner setting, the "Savage Mother-in-law" ad humorously portrays a series of rapid demands and the daughter-in-law's witty responses, emphasizing the message: "Life is complicated enough — fortunately, insurance doesn't have to be." The "Shy Bestie" ad delivers the line "Love doesn't always come when you make the first move, but Blue always has you covered," humorously reinforcing Blue's promise of the "lowest price in town" for life protection. Beyond TV ads, Blue is rolling out the campaign across multiple online and offline channels this month, including bus and taxi ads, online banners, and social media content to amplify its Danny Wu, VP & Head of Digital & Marketing of Blue, stated: "We aim to break the traditional barriers of the insurance industry by simplifying complex terms and procedures, giving customers full control over their protection. We believe digitalization brings simplicity and flexibility that better meets evolving customer needs. With Blue, insurance is no longer complicated — customers can complete the entire application process in as fast as 5 minutes, truly making life simpler."Blue guarantees the lowest price in town during the first policy benefit term¹, ensuring customers get the best deal on term life protection — making it easier than ever to protect their loved Features:Blue Insurance Limited is authorized and regulated by the Insurance Authority under the Insurance Ordinance (Cap. 41) to sell insurance products in Hong Kong. For full campaign and product details, terms and conditions, visit: . Terms and conditions apply to the above products and "Lowest Rate Guaranteed" compares the standard premiums of two quotations. To be eligible for the "Lowest Rate Guaranteed", the two quotations must be on the same premium payment term, policy benefit term, issue age, sex, and smoking status, and is applicable to term life policies that are intended for online sale and in Hong Kong only. "Lowest Rate Guaranteed" is not applicable for submitted applications and in-force policies.2. Actual underwriting result depends on the age and health condition of the Insured.3. While the Policy is in force, renewal is guaranteed at the end of the Policy Benefit Term, before the Life Assured's 96th birthday. For more details, please refer to the Product Summary and the Policy #BlueHK #LiveEasy #DigitalInsurance #BlueisthatSimple #BrandCampaign #SimplifyingComplexity #TermLifeProtection #GuaranteedLowestPriceInTown The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ABOUT BLUE Blue is the first digital life insurer in Hong Kong. It is a joint venture between Hillhouse Investment, a leading investment management firm with extensive investment experience, and Tencent Holdings Limited, a leading Internet value added services provider. Blue focuses on providing simple, flexible and valuable insurance solutions. It is committed to making people's lives easier by empowering them to take charge of their own protection. For more information, please visit
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
In Singapore, woman gets just S$1 in divorce, but ex loses bigger share over misconduct
SINGAPORE, June 2 — A woman's bid for S$2,500 (RM8,255) in monthly maintenance from her former husband has been dismissed by the Singapore High Court, but the judge reduced the man's share of their marital assets by 10 per cent, citing his repeated attempts to sabotage the marriage and his ex-wife's welfare. In a judgment delivered on May 7, and reported by The Straits Times today, Justice Choo Han Teck upheld an earlier district court's decision to award the 39-year-old woman nominal maintenance of S$1 per month, while increasing her share of their matrimonial flat from 20 to 25 per cent. She was also granted more than S$52,000 from other assets. The woman, an administrative assistant earning S$2,340 a month, had appealed against the nominal award, citing her limited means and inability to purchase a flat on her own as a Singapore permanent resident. Her lawyer, Russell Thio of Emerald Law, reportedly argued that the district judge had failed to fully consider her accommodation needs. Her former husband, a 46-year-old regular serviceman in the Singapore Armed Forces earning S$5,212 a month, was represented by Sarbrinder Singh Naranjan Singh and Nicholas Say of Sanders Law. Justice Choo, however, found no basis for increasing the maintenance. 'She has not shown that her pay is insufficient to meet her monthly expenses, including housing, or that she has exhausted all means to find accommodation,' he was quoted as saying. He maintained the nominal S$1 order, which he described as 'a sum as inconsequential in substance as it is in appearance'. He added: 'However, as the Court of Appeal has held otherwise, I will leave the S$1 order intact.' Despite denying the woman a larger monthly sum, Justice Choo penalised her ex-husband financially, awarding him a smaller share of the assets to reflect the court's disapproval of his conduct. Lawyers said the court used the asset division to send a clear signal about the consequences of such behaviour. The man had repeatedly denied his ex-wife access to their daughter, now 12, and was found in contempt of court for breaching access orders. He also attempted to send the woman back to India and petitioned HDB to take over their flat, which she had been paying for after he refused to let her co-own or contribute officially to the mortgage. Justice Choo noted that the HDB eventually refunded her contributions and she was evicted from the flat with police assistance. The court found that the man's actions had effectively denied her a share in any potential open-market sale proceeds.
