By Shivali Nayak, Multimedia Journalist
IT SWOOPS down when you least expect it and it will hurt you if
it manages to hit you.
Crows have been a problem in Singapore for more than a decade
but they have been an absolute nightmare for Tampines residents the
past month, specifically in Tampines Street 83.
Many residents there reported a close encounter, most times they
were shocked by a painful peck to the back of their heads while
crossing the roads. But before they can react, their 'attacker' had
already flown off.
These crow 'attacks' started more than two weeks ago, prompting
the National Environment Agency (NEA) to carry out two crow culling
exercises immediately upon receiving calls from concerned
residents. Four crows were culled and three nests were
destroyed.
But many residents are still very weary of crossing the junction
of Tampines Street 83 that faces Blk 827. One resident, Mohamed
Sarip, who lives at Blk 827A Tampines Street 81, said he was hurt 3
times by a crow last month. The 68-year-old added that older
residents seem more prone to attacks.
The crow population in Singapore has been significantly reduced
from around 120,000 in 2001 to about 10,000 now. But the area
around Tampines Street 83 has many thick trees and areas with food
remains - two factors that attract crows. It is therefore no
surprise that there is a significant crow population in the
area.
