Rat burrows decrease by half amid stepped-up enforcement

NEA attributes outcome to collective effort, including greater use of surveillance tech

- Ariel Yu

Singapore seems to be winning its ongoing fight against the rat population.

There was a nearly 50 per cent drop in the average number of rat burrows detected in public areas in the first half of 2024, compared with 2023, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reported on Sept 24.

Surveillance is conducted every two months. During each two-month surveillance cycle, an average of about 2,700 rat burrows were detected in the first half of 2024, down from 5,200 in 2023. From 2020 to 2022, the numbers were 4,300, 3,900 and 4,162, respectively.

NEA said this positive outcome is owing to a collective effort. This comprised stepped-up enforcement against improper refuse management; greater use of technology such as sensors, infrared cameras, thermal cameras and borescopes to detect rat activity; and stronger coordination with stakeholders such as town councils, food premises and trade operators.

NEA and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) increased enforcement against improper refuse management in areas around trade premises, food licensees and at bin collection points.