The Pigeon Feeding Fight That Cost S$9,200!

🐦 The Great Pigeon Buffet That Cost S$9,200

Singapore, where even the pigeons apparently have to follow the rules.

Meet Rogayah Ahmad, 78, a grandmotherly bird feeder who apparently believed that the neighborhood pigeons were simply hungry customers waiting for breakfast.

Unfortunately, Singapore's wildlife rules had a very different opinion.

It all started at Block 145, Bukit Batok Street 11, after members of the public complained about wildlife being fed.

On October 12, 2025, enforcement officers spotted Rogayah tossing cut papaya to about four pigeons on a grass patch.

The officers approached her and told her to stop.

They even tried to give her a pamphlet explaining that feeding wildlife was prohibited.

Her response?

She already had one.

Apparently, this was not exactly a “Thank you for informing me” situation.

Two days later, officers saw her again—this time with a plate of fried rice.

The rice was placed on the grass for the birds.

An officer retrieved the plate and brought it back to Rogayah's flat, again advising her to stop feeding the pigeons.

Things then took a rather dramatic turn.

According to court documents, Rogayah became aggressive, swung her hands and struck the officer in the abdomen. She also cursed at the officer during a confrontation lasting about five minutes.

And yes—the body-worn camera recorded it. 😬

But the pigeons apparently had not received the memo.

On January 9, 2026, Rogayah was spotted again at the same location, this time tossing bread and grains to pigeons and other wildlife.

At this point, the neighborhood pigeons may have been thinking:

“Same place tomorrow?” 🐦🍞

Rogayah later admitted in a statement that she had fed the birds and acknowledged that this wasn't her first time. She had already received a warning for feeding wildlife in September 2021.

🐦 But why is feeding pigeons illegal?

Singapore takes wildlife feeding seriously.

Under its Wildlife Act, intentionally feeding wildlife without written approval is prohibited. NParks explains that pigeons are an invasive species that can gather in large numbers around human food sources. Their droppings can create soiling and hygiene problems, while feeding can encourage them to depend on humans for food.

And Singapore isn't exactly playing around with the penalties.

The current maximum penalty for a first-time wildlife-feeding offence can be S$10,000, while repeat offenders can face up to 12 months' imprisonment and a fine of up to S$20,000.

There was also a separate offence in Rogayah's case: using criminal force against a public servant. That offence can carry up to four years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

⚖️ And then came the bill...

Rogayah pleaded guilty to two charges of feeding wildlife without approval and one charge of using criminal force on a public servant. A fourth charge was taken into consideration.

On September 30, 2026, she was fined S$9,200—roughly US$7,180 or about ₱420,000.

The court also heard that Rogayah has dementia. Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu said she must stop feeding the wildlife and referred her for a court conference involving psychologists and counsellors to assess what support she may need.

Rogayah paid the fine in full.

🐦 The moral of the story?

Sometimes you think you're just giving a hungry pigeon a little snack...

The pigeon thinks:

“BEST DAY EVER!”

The neighbors think:

“Please stop.”

NParks thinks:

“Absolutely not.”

And eventually...

Your wallet thinks:

“WHY DID WE FEED THE PIGEONS?” 💸🐦

In Singapore, apparently, “feeding the birds” can become a very expensive hobby.

And those pigeons?

They walked away from the whole situation without paying a single cent. 😂🐦