SINGAPORE: LARGE SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL PETS FROM A PRIVATE OWNER

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE

 

22 December 2004

 

LARGE SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL PETS FROM A PRIVATE OWNER

 

SINGAPORE 22 DECEMBER – Following a tip-off received by the Animal

Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), officers from the

Acres Wildlife Rescue Team and the Agri-Food and Veterinary

Authority (AVA) raided a house in the Serangoon area on 20 December

2004.

 

A total of eleven illegal pets (seven species) were found and

confiscated. The animals included a bearded dragon, a leopard gecko,

tarantulas, scorpions, a rainbow boa, a carpet python and a green

tree python.

 

All the animals were probably illegally imported into Singapore and

at least four out of the seven species are listed on Appendix II on

the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of

Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) of which Singapore is a party to.

 

Globally, the illegal trading in wildlife, timber and other natural

resources is now surpassed only by the trafficking in drugs and

weapons. The ongoing illegal pet trade has severe consequences for

the survival of every species involved. More than half of the

smuggled animals die, and the surviving animals mostly end up living

in bad conditions or are mistreated. These animals also rarely

survive for long in captivity.

 

Most wild animals are prohibited as pets in Singapore. The list of

prohibited species includes primates, amphibians, reptiles (except

the red-eared slider) many species of birds and some types of fish.

Anyone caught importing or exporting animals which fall under the

Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act without a permit can be

fined up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offenders) per species and/or

jailed for up to one year. For keeping wildlife without a license,

offenders can be charged under the Wild Animals and Birds Act and

fined up to $1,000 per animal.

 

Acres will be providing the informant with a cash reward of an

undisclosed amount.

 

" Part of the reason for keeping these exotic animals is to boast

about it, that one has these animals which their friends do not have

and that they are above the law. Acres will continue to provide

rewards for tip-offs, to tempt people to tell on their friends. We

are sending out a strong message that if you keep illegal pets, it

will be a matter of time before they will be confiscated. We further

urge the public not to keep these exotic animals as pets " said Louis

Ng, President and Executive Director of Acres.

 

Anyone with information on anyone who trades or possess illegal pets

can call the 24 hours Acres Wildlife Crime Hotline at: 9783 7782.

 

Photos of the animals confiscated are available on request.

 

Contact:

 

Louis Ng (President and Executive Director)

Email: louis Handphone: +65 97968592

- ends -

Notes to editors

 

1. To date, Acres has responded to 13 cases of illegal pets in

Singapore which led to a confiscation of 33 animals.

2. The Acres Wildlife Crime Hotline provides an avenue for

those who know of anyone who buys, owns or trades in exotic animals,

to blow the whistle on these wildlife traders and buyers.

3. Founded by a group of Singaporeans in 2001, Acres is a non-

profit organisation aimed at fostering respect and compassion for

all animals. Acres's approach to raising animal welfare issue is to

focus on education and back up our advocacy with scientific clarity

accrued through research. Using our findings, we will inform the

public and work towards synergistic partnerships with the

authorities and related parties to improve animal welfare.

[Guest guest]

 

This is very nice that our frfiends are rescued from offenders' clutches.

Sandeep

 

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 acresasia wrote :

>

>

>

>PRESS RELEASE

>

>22 December 2004

>

>LARGE SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL PETS FROM A PRIVATE OWNER

>

>SINGAPORE 22 DECEMBER – Following a tip-off received by the Animal

>Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), officers from the

>Acres Wildlife Rescue Team and the Agri-Food and Veterinary

>Authority (AVA) raided a house in the Serangoon area on 20 December

>2004.

>

>A total of eleven illegal pets (seven species) were found and

>confiscated. The animals included a bearded dragon, a leopard gecko,

>tarantulas, scorpions, a rainbow boa, a carpet python and a green

>tree python.

>

>All the animals were probably illegally imported into Singapore and

>at least four out of the seven species are listed on Appendix II on

>the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of

>Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) of which Singapore is a party to.

>

>Globally, the illegal trading in wildlife, timber and other natural

>resources is now surpassed only by the trafficking in drugs and

>weapons. The ongoing illegal pet trade has severe consequences for

>the survival of every species involved. More than half of the

>smuggled animals die, and the surviving animals mostly end up living

>in bad conditions or are mistreated. These animals also rarely

>survive for long in captivity.

>

>Most wild animals are prohibited as pets in Singapore. The list of

>prohibited species includes primates, amphibians, reptiles (except

>the red-eared slider) many species of birds and some types of fish.

>Anyone caught importing or exporting animals which fall under the

>Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act without a permit can be

>fined up to $5,000 ($10,000 for repeat offenders) per species and/or

>jailed for up to one year. For keeping wildlife without a license,

>offenders can be charged under the Wild Animals and Birds Act and

>fined up to $1,000 per animal.

>

>Acres will be providing the informant with a cash reward of an

>undisclosed amount.

>

> " Part of the reason for keeping these exotic animals is to boast

>about it, that one has these animals which their friends do not have

>and that they are above the law. Acres will continue to provide

>rewards for tip-offs, to tempt people to tell on their friends. We

>are sending out a strong message that if you keep illegal pets, it

>will be a matter of time before they will be confiscated. We further

>urge the public not to keep these exotic animals as pets " said Louis

>Ng, President and Executive Director of Acres.

>

>Anyone with information on anyone who trades or possess illegal pets

>can call the 24 hours Acres Wildlife Crime Hotline at: 9783 7782.

>

>Photos of the animals confiscated are available on request.

>

>Contact:

>

>Louis Ng (President and Executive Director)

>Email: louis Handphone: +65 97968592

>- ends -

>Notes to editors

>

>1. To date, Acres has responded to 13 cases of illegal pets in

>Singapore which led to a confiscation of 33 animals.

>2. The Acres Wildlife Crime Hotline provides an avenue for

>those who know of anyone who buys, owns or trades in exotic animals,

>to blow the whistle on these wildlife traders and buyers.

>3. Founded by a group of Singaporeans in 2001, Acres is a non-

>profit organisation aimed at fostering respect and compassion for

>all animals. Acres's approach to raising animal welfare issue is to

>focus on education and back up our advocacy with scientific clarity

>accrued through research. Using our findings, we will inform the

>public and work towards synergistic partnerships with the

>authorities and related parties to improve animal welfare.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>For more information on Asian animal issues, please use the search feature on

the AAPN website: http://www.aapn.org/ or search the list archives at:

aapn

>Please feel free to send any relevant news or comments to the list at

aapn

>