While feeding birds and animals may seem like an innocent and kind gesture, a 71-year-old Indian-origin woman got fined Rs 2,27,556 (SGD 3,200) for feeding pigeons on nine different occasions over a period of six months in Singapore.
She was fined under the Singapore Wildlife Act in the city's oldest housing estates, as reported by News18.
Who is the woman?
Sanmugamnathan Shamla, a resident of the Toa Payoh housing estate in Singapore, pleaded guilty to four charges, while another five similar charges were considered. She was fined earlier as well for feeding wild birds and had promised not to do it again.
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The court learned that Shamla was fined SGD 1,200 in May last year for illegally feeding birds near her apartment and had interrupted a National Parks Board (NParks) pigeon trapping exercise. Even though she knew it was against the law, she kept feeding pigeons from July 2025 to January 2026.
'Repeat offender'
"The accused stands before you as a repeat offender," said the NParks prosecutor, adding that Shamla showed a "persistent disregard for the law".
The prosecutor pointed out that she had promised not to commit any more offenses during her last conviction but fell back into her "old ways" within a month. The court, while considering her age, stated that only a "meaningful financial penalty" would stop her.
Shamla, who did not have legal representation, asked for a fine between "SGD 1,000 and 2,000", saying she was unemployed and lacked medical insurance. She added, "I will make up the balance by doing community service."
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When the court announced the fine, she agreed to pay it right away. As a repeat offender who was intentionally feeding wildlife without written permission, Shamla could have faced fines of up to SGD 10,000 for each charge.
What is Singapore Wildlife Act?
The Singapore Wildlife Act protects native flora and fauna and makes it illegal to feed, release, trap or kill wildlife without authorisation. Under the Act, "a person must not intentionally feed any wildlife in any places unless the person has the Director-General's written approval to do so". The Act further states that any person who "contravenes" this shall be liable to a fine ranging between 5,000 dollars to 10,000 dollars.
