HOSPITALS ARE supposed to be places where patients recover, doctors heal and nurses perform miracles under pressure. Hospitals are generally not expected to double as bird sanctuaries.
Unfortunately for Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), a viral video circulating on social media appears to show several pigeons roaming freely inside a patient ward, prompting netizens to wonder whether the birds had somehow mistaken the hospital for a luxury buffet outlet.
The footage, shared by social media user @dahfollowbelum, shows pigeons walking around the ward floor with a confidence usually reserved for senior consultants doing ward rounds.
One particularly ambitious pigeon appears to have taken its duties a step further by climbing directly into a patient’s tray, perhaps conducting a routine quality-control inspection.
Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah@KKMPutrajaya pic.twitter.com/dRYNZiFGBH
— isu apa hari ini (@dahfollowbelum) June 8, 2026
Another bird was seen helping itself to food, suggesting that somewhere along the way, a pigeon union may have decided that hospital meals should be enjoyed by all creatures, great and small.
While people may find humour in the unexpected avian visitors, it is easy to point out the obvious concern here.
Hospitals are meant to be environments where hygiene standards are taken seriously, especially for patients whose immune systems may already be compromised.
After all, recovering patients generally expect medicine, rest and nutritional meals. They do not typically expect to share lunch with a flock of freeloading pigeons.
Our fellow netizens are of course, more than happy to share their opinion regarding the matter too. “The H5N1 avian flu has ended, right? Should be safe,” said a sarcastic @reez275.
Another netizen added that natural ventilation should not be the cause of such intrusion.
Following the online attention generated by the video, HTAR issued an official statement explaining that the pigeons and crows have long inhabited the trees surrounding the hospital grounds.
According to the hospital, these birds may occasionally enter hospital buildings unintentionally, including patient wards.
HTAR said it has already implemented regular control measures, including tree pruning besides continuous monitoring of the ward and hospital areas to minimise bird intrusion.
The hospital also revealed that it has been working with local authorities to strengthen efforts aimed at managing the bird population around the premises.
Importantly, HTAR stressed that it takes the matter seriously and remains committed to maintaining a safe, clean and conducive environment for patients, staff and visitors.
For now, the birds may have enjoyed a brief moment of internet fame.
But judging by the hospital’s response, their visits to the patient ward could soon be coming to an end. —June 9, 2026
Main image: @dahfollowbelum (X)
