Lawyers for Animal Rights said the council’s three-day “Operasi Menembak Gagak”, which started at 7am today, was an “illegal murderous rampage that must be called off”.

“MPHTJ must find non-lethal ways of controlling the crow population and not resort to the murder of these innocent animals,” it said in a statement.

The group cited Section 30(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which specifies that no animal may be killed by a gun unless authorised by the veterinary services department (DVS) in an emergency, or for disease control.

Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, founder of the group, claimed that he was informed by the council that they did not obtain any authorisation from DVS for the campaign, but had informed the police.

He argued that even though Section 30(2)(e) permits the killing of animals for population control, Section 30(1) bars local authorities from using firearms.

“Therefore, using firearms as a means of animal population control without authorisation from DVS, as stipulated in Section 30(1), is against the law,” he told FMT.

Rajesh said obtaining authorisation ensures proper adherence to legal and ethical standards in managing animal populations.

He said there is a need to amend Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 for a better interpretation of the methods that authorities are allowed to use in culling animals.

“The public is horrified that such a mass murder of animals is going on in this day and age,” he said.

FMT has reached out to MPHTJ for comment.