Why Can't you Feed Birds in Britain, and Monkeys in Singapore?

 Many parks in Spain and the UK have animals which roam around, usually under the eye of a keeper, for children to admire up close and adults to photograph. The animals' owners make their money by selling you suitable feed for the animals.

You might think asking you to buy feed after enticing you in with the word free is annoying. You might think you are quite happy to buy feed as a thank you and to get good pictures, especially if the place is empty. If the place is busy, you might think that so many people are buying feed and staying long, that you can take a quick look and go without buying without doing any harm or upsetting the park and visitors who are getting along quite well without you.

Feeding wild animals is another matter. Some people think that it is okay to feed wild animals, in their own back garden or in public parks, especially in bad weather. However, parks are now full of people, and town are over run with pigeons making a mess.

Do Not Feed The Animals & Birds Notices

Singapore Bans On Feeding

I first noticed DO NOT FEED signs in Singapore on walking trails around reservoirs. I thought the idea was to keep away animals such as monkeys which otherwise come close and grab your child's food, your hat, your camera, or your bag, which the monkey thinks contains food. It also means that the animals think you are like a keeper coming at regular hours to feed, and if you arrive with a bag without food they are disappointed and angry and feel cheated and attack you, your dog, or other passers-by.

In Singapore we had trouble in the block of flats where we lived. First it was monkeys. When they got inside an empty window, they pulled down the curtains, because of their weight, tore the curtains and furniture, scratched, left nasty smells, knocked over things such as vases which broke, sending water and flowers everywhere. the same in bedrooms, corridors, public spaces. As for a kitchen and bathroom, no longer clean. 

When you chase them and try to get them out, naturally they respond to being attacked by running randomly into cupboards and corners, startle everybody, leaving everyone afariad and nervous. You might have to do a lot of cleaning, make insurance claims. Or even be fined for attracting animals which damage your neighbours' property or public property.

The same goes for larger animals. The swimming pool in Singapore became the destination for huge black creatures which looked like seals. They polluted the water, frightened people away. The swimming pool and gardens were cordoned off. The swimming teacher's livelihood was impacted. 

UK Bans On Feeding Ducks and Birds

Now in the UK in 2026 we have signs warning not to feed pigeons which nest under bridges across the road in Pinner, Middlesex, in north west London, cause costs in clean up. 

In Brighton seagulls steal sandwiches and ice creams out of the hands of adults and children who are sitting on beaches or the promenade. 

Ruislip Lido

Now signs are going up in parks. Do not feed the ducks at Ruislip Lido.

We used to be able to paddle and swim and water ski in the Lido. Now there are signs warning you to keep out. No swimming. No paddling. Even keep your dogs on leads to prevent them from bounding into the water.

The increase in the number of ducks and swans has increased the amount of their excrement in the water. This changes the nature of the water which breeds algae. 

The result is that the water causes skin rashes, irritation. Stressful. 

Using local parks & respecting PSPO (Public Space Protection Orders)

All parks with Green Flag status are managed to provide enough food to sustain the wildlife that live in them. This is done by planting of nectar-rich flowers, hedges and trees that bear berries for birds, or maintaining well-managed soils that provide a wealth of worms and other invertebrates that birds and small mammals feed on. It is vital that we maintain this balance to support biodiversity in our parks and green spaces.

Protection Order

This Protection Order prohibits the following activity: No person shall purposely deposit food or animal feed on the ground or on any structure or building in the public area to attract or feed wildlife, or vermin. In short, do not go into a local park or green space and deposit food on the ground, nor anywhere else within that public space. It is illegal! * Our parks contain enough food to support the wildlife that lives here. When we have the opportunity, our teams plant more trees, hedges and shrubs that provide the berries, nuts and seeds that animals love.

* Processed ‘human’ food is not good for wildlife. They haven’t evolved to eat the same foods as us, and so these foods can cause harm. Bread doesn’t contain much nutritional value but fills up the birds’ stomachs so that they don’t forage for foods they would normally eat, which can lead to malnutrition. *

Animals that are used to being fed by humans behave unnaturally around people, putting themselves and visitors at risk. For example, squirrels that have become too confident are more at risk of attack by a dog.

Trapped Bird

In Hatch End one of my neighbours used to put out bread for the birds. On one occasion

a pet cat had one of the birds in its mouth. My neighbour and I were very agitated and the bird seemed dead. My neighbour shouted to no avail. The cat would not release the bird. Finally, my neighbour got the garden hose and sprayed the cat. In surprise ti dropped the bird which immediately flew away. I don't know it the bird was injured, but it certainly had a very nasty fright. I remember this days, weeks, months later. If children had been around, they too would have been upset.

Feeding Birds In Back Gardens

Only when typing this article did I see the connection between putting out food for birds, and birds being attracted to the ground in gardens where cats roam. *

Food such as bread or rice left on the ground attracts rats and other vermin, which is not good for other wildlife, or local residents and businesses *

Uneaten food thrown into ponds or on dropped onto banks that has been left to rot damages the water quality. This results in more algae growing on the water, more disease and pests, causing animals and plants to become sick and die *

Encouraging large groups of birds to gather creates an excessive amount of bird droppings, which is detrimental to the health of the soil, and increases the need to clean park benches and other features *

The high numbers of squirrels encouraged by feeding damage and kill trees *

Throwing food for birds encourages them to group together, which can increase the spread of diseases, such as bird flu.

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