Is It Illegal to Feed Stray Animals in Singapore?

There are currently no legal provisions prohibiting the feeding of stray animals that frequent Singapore’s neighbourhood estates, such as cats. However, it is still possible to see posters put up by Town Councils discouraging or even warning residents not to feed stray cats. Feeding stray animals is not illegal unless littering is involved. Therefore, if you wish to feed them, do so responsibly, and remember to clean up the mess left behind.

However, within Singapore’s National Parks and Nature Reserves, feeding animals such as monkeys is an offence prohibited by section 9 of the Parks and Trees Act. This is because feeding can encourage unruly behaviour from these wild monkeys. Those who do so will be fined up to $50,000 and/or jailed for up to 6 months upon conviction. In the case of a continuing offence, a further fine of $500 will be imposed for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.

Further, feeding wildlife such as wild boars, is generally prohibited in Singapore under section 5A of the Wildlife Act. Those who do so will be fined up to $5,000 upon conviction for a first offence and up to $10,000 for subsequent offences.