Singapore: Press coverage for the opening of the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre

[Guest guest]

TODAY

14 August 2009

 

After tears, delays and a lawsuit

Singapore's first wildlife rescue shelter opens

by Esther Ng

 

After five long and rocky years, the Animal Concerns Research and Education

Society (Acres) finally opened its rescue shelter yesterday, a mission its

executive director and founder Louis Ng never expected would drive him to tears.

 

Funding problems delayed the opening of Singapore's first dedicated wildlife

rescue shelter from April 2007 to October 2007. But a month before this

scheduled launch, a foul smell necessitated soil tests - and the hardest blow

was finding out, in March 2008, that the animal enclosures were sitting on 1.5

hectares of rotting wood chips, rendering the buildings unstable.

 

" Yes, I cried, " Mr Ng, 30, admitted. " It meant having to demolish the kitchen,

primate and turtle sanctuaries, and all the cages which were built-to-order.

They were welded to structures and could not be salvaged. "

 

It was a huge blow to the non-profit group which had spent 18 months raising

$500,000 to build the 2-hectare centre. It took out a lawsuit against its

contractor last year.

 

Even as it awaits the outcome of the legal action, the Acres Wildlife Rescue

Centre is resuming the rescue work it had put on hold for one-and-a-half years

while waiting for its premises to be built.

 

In Mr Ng's words: " We have to stay positive and move on. "

 

Its quarantine centre can house up to 50 animals at any one time.

 

" We're focusing on just reptiles and amphibians now because they form the bulk

of illegal wildlife trade, " Mr Ng said.

 

The public can call its new 24-hour hotline at 9783 7782 to report illegal

activity. In Singapore, the number of cases of illegal possession or import of

protected wildlife reached a high of 97 cases in 2004, declining to 17 cases

last year. As of July this year, there were 14 cases.

 

Acres will continue to pass on any tip-offs it gets to the authorities for

offences to be prosecuted. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) will send

wildlife it confiscates to Acres " if there is a need " , said AVA spokesman Goh

Shih Yong.

 

Typically, it sends the animals to the Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park and

Underwater World, depending on the species, while some are repatriated to the

country of origin while local species may be released into the wild after

consultation with the National Parks Board.

 

What if members of the public try to dump their regular household pets - not

wildlife - with the centre? It will not take them in, stressed Mr Ng. " We will

hand them over to the appropriate NGOs. "

 

Volunteers can sleep over

 

Rescue work will not be Acres' main focus. Its two other missions are undercover

work and public education; it has worked with 83 schools since 2001.

 

Now, its Outdoor Conservation Classroom at the new centre will allow students to

examine native wildlife which includes plants. They can also catch exhibits on

wildlife protection and performances at the Lee Foundation Centre onsite.

 

There is even a building specially for volunteers - it comes with dining and

lounge areas and five bedrooms.

 

" We want to get the public involved in our work. They can watch TV, have their

meals or stay overnight. We want them to feel that they are part of a team, not

that we're making use of them, " said Mr Ng.

 

" Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign of progress in

Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Straits Times

14 August 2009

 

Wildlife rescue centre opens

Acres� facility to take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from smugglers and

illegal owners

By Grace Chua

 

After a rocky five-year journey, the first dedicated wildlife rescue centre here

opened its doors yesterday.

 

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Wildlife Rescue

Centre will take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from smugglers and owners

who keep them illegally.

 

Reptiles like star tortoises and bearded dragon lizards, and Asian arowana fish,

make up the bulk of illegal shipments confiscated here each year. Most

confiscated animals are either repatriated or sent to zoos, the Jurong BirdPark

or other facilities.

 

The rescue centre will be another outlet �if there is a need�, the Agri-Food

and Veterinary Authority said. Native species taken to the centre will be

rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

 

�Having a rescue centre is a sign that there�s a problem, but it�s also a

sign that society wants to solve the problem,� said Acres� 30-year-old

founder and executive director Louis Ng.

 

The idea for the rescue centre was sparked in 2004, after Mr Ng freed a vervet

monkey from a cage at a factory here. The monkey, dubbed �Blue�, was

temporarily cared for at the Singapore Zoo before being sent to a wildlife

sanctuary in its native Africa. This experience convinced Mr Ng, who has a

master�s in primate conservation, of the need for such a wildlife rescue

facility.

 

Acres� 2ha site off Choa Chu Kang was originally slated to open in 2007, but

construction on the project stalled due to lack of funds.

 

The non-profit group also faced problems allegedly caused by its building

contractor after woodchips, used to level a 100m stretch of ground, rotted and

contaminated the area.

 

A civil suit against A.N.A. Contractor and its director was heard in May, and

judgment is pending.

 

The facility�s administrative office, education centre and staff living

quarters opened last September, and the rescue area was partially opened

yesterday. It is able to house up to 50 animals at the moment in 3m by 3m cages,

with veterinarians on hand to care for the sick.

 

After judgment is passed on the suit, construction will begin on open-air

enclosures. When complete, the centre will house up to 400 creatures.

 

But financial worries remain.

 

The centre has a monthly operating budget of $20,000, including for animal care,

salaries and land rental, and the organisation has just six months� funding at

present, said Mr Ng, who is always in search of committed volunteers to help

out.

 

Besides the rescue operations, Acres also carries out education and outreach

programmes to discourage people from buying illegal exotic pets.

 

Singapore is a wildlife smuggling hub because of its transport networks and

proximity to sources of animals, according to wildlife trade watchdog Traffic.

In 2007, there were 20 cases of illegal animal trading or possession, and the

figure rose to 22 last year. This year to date, there have been 14 such cases.

 

Singapore is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), and has strict penalties for smuggling

protected wildlife: a maximum fine of $50,000 per Cites species, up to $500,000

and/or a jail term of up to two years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

938Live

13 August 2009

 

A place to call home for rescued wildlife

 

Reptiles and amphibians rescued from illegal wildlife trade will now have a

place to call home.

 

This, as Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre run by the Animal Concerns

Research and Education Society or ACRES began operations today.

 

Speaking at the launch of the centre, Mr Lim Wee Kiat, Member of Parliament for

Sembawang GRC points out that Singapore has to put in more effort to tackle the

illegal wildlife trade, which is surpassed only by the trafficking of drugs and

weapons.

 

He adds that the number of illegal possession or import of protected wildlife

cases here have gone down to 17 in 2008, from the 97 cases in 2004.

 

But Singapore must not let her guard down says Mr Lim.

 

" By the fact that we're a transportation hub, all transportation actually goes

through Singapore. They can't transport out from a remote island anyway, so they

will find means and ways to come through Singapore. And all these trade, they

will not be found in your normal aquarium or pet shop, they will do this as a

trans-shipment through to another country. "

 

The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth around US$20 billion a year.

 

According to Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network, Singapore is listed

alongside Malaysia and Manila as the world's top ten wildlife smuggling hubs.

 

Mr Louis Ng, Founder and Executive Director of ACRES, says the launch of the

centre will not only be able to educate the public on the importance of rescuing

wildlife but also help crackdown the illegal trade.

 

" We do undercovers every year, that sends a very strong message to the traders,

if you carry on selling we will catch you one day. Our volunteers that go

undercover are armed with hidden cameras that we can use for prosecution. "

 

Currently, the centre's Main Sanctuary Area is incomplete as construction was

delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least another six months,

pending court decision on a pollution lawsuit.

 

The contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips onto this site, which caused the

discharge of wastewater.

 

ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main contractor and

its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

 

When completed, the main sanctuary will be able to hold up to 400 rescued

wildlife.

 

These includes reptiles, primates and native birds.

 

Animals like dogs will be handed over to other organisations like the SPCA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ChannelNews Asia

13 August 2009

 

Local charity launches Singapore's first dedicated wildlife rescue centre

By Gladys Ow

 

More efforts are being made to tackle the illegal wildlife trade in Singapore,

which is surpassed only by the trafficking of drugs and weapons.

 

A new shelter aims to rescue distressed animals and return them to their native

homes.

 

" Blue " , a Vervet monkey, is the inspiration for setting up Singapore's first

dedicated wildlife rescue centre.

 

Six years ago, Blue was kept illegally as a pet at a house. But thanks to the

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), Blue became Singapore's

first-ever primate to be repatriated home to Zambia.

 

ACRES hopes Blue's story is only the beginning of more successful rescue

efforts.

 

More than 9,000 animals were seized in the last three years.

 

At ACRES' newly-launched Wildlife Rescue Centre at Chua Chu Kang, protected

species found will be nursed back to health, before being returned to their

native environment.

 

However, it is not just about tackling the illegal wildlife trade. ACRES also

wants to educate the public on protecting animals and the environment.

 

" Penny " has a deformed hind leg. Penny would have been put down by the puppy

farm she was brought from if ACRES had not rescued her and cared for her.

 

Penny is now the centre's mascot for education, which ACRES believes is key to

ending animal cruelty and illegal wildlife trade.

 

The charity has worked closely with schools and community groups since 2001.

ACRES' education programmes, reaching over 100,000 children and adults every

year, encourage compassion and responsible behaviour. It has worked with 83

schools since 2001.

 

Louis Ng, executive director of ACRES said: " Most importantly, what we want to

do at the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre is to create awareness, which is why the

first block you see at the entrance is the Lee Foundation Education Centre.

 

" It is not just about rescuing the animals; it's really about creating

awareness, getting the public involved, getting them interested about this

issue. Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign of progress

in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

 

Progress did not come easy for ACRES. The building of the centre's main

sanctuary area has been delayed because of a pending court decision on a

pollution lawsuit.

 

It has been delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least another

six months. Its contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips onto the site, which

caused the discharge of wastewater into a channel linked to the Kranji

reservoir.

 

ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main contractor and

its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

 

When completed, the centre can hold up to 400 rescued wildlife, including

reptiles, primates and native birds. Pets like dogs will be handed over to other

organisations like the SPCA.

[Guest guest]

Dear Amy and Louis,

Wonderful achievement. Congratulations. Quite

apart from your wildlife rescue work, I would rate your zoo surveys as among

the very best in the world. I was extremely impressed with your research on

Polar Bears in captivity and your efforts to improve conditions in Singapore

Zoo.

And it was the combined effort of Louis and John that got me to Singapore

in 2005 and for that act of kindness, I remain grateful to both of you. I

continue to admire your diverse achievements for captive animals and trust

that you will have much more to contribute to this field. I will distribute

this message far and wide.

Well done.

Very best as ever,

 

 

On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Amy Corrigan <amycorrigan77wrote:

 

> TODAY

> 14 August 2009

>

> After tears, delays and a lawsuit

> Singapore's first wildlife rescue shelter opens

> by Esther Ng

>

> After five long and rocky years, the Animal Concerns Research and Education

> Society (Acres) finally opened its rescue shelter yesterday, a mission its

> executive director and founder Louis Ng never expected would drive him to

> tears.

>

> Funding problems delayed the opening of Singapore's first dedicated

> wildlife rescue shelter from April 2007 to October 2007. But a month before

> this scheduled launch, a foul smell necessitated soil tests - and the

> hardest blow was finding out, in March 2008, that the animal enclosures were

> sitting on 1.5 hectares of rotting wood chips, rendering the buildings

> unstable.

>

> " Yes, I cried, " Mr Ng, 30, admitted. " It meant having to demolish the

> kitchen, primate and turtle sanctuaries, and all the cages which were

> built-to-order. They were welded to structures and could not be salvaged. "

>

> It was a huge blow to the non-profit group which had spent 18 months

> raising $500,000 to build the 2-hectare centre. It took out a lawsuit

> against its contractor last year.

>

> Even as it awaits the outcome of the legal action, the Acres Wildlife

> Rescue Centre is resuming the rescue work it had put on hold for

> one-and-a-half years while waiting for its premises to be built.

>

> In Mr Ng's words: " We have to stay positive and move on. "

>

> Its quarantine centre can house up to 50 animals at any one time.

>

> " We're focusing on just reptiles and amphibians now because they form the

> bulk of illegal wildlife trade, " Mr Ng said.

>

> The public can call its new 24-hour hotline at 9783 7782 to report illegal

> activity. In Singapore, the number of cases of illegal possession or import

> of protected wildlife reached a high of 97 cases in 2004, declining to 17

> cases last year. As of July this year, there were 14 cases.

>

> Acres will continue to pass on any tip-offs it gets to the authorities for

> offences to be prosecuted. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) will

> send wildlife it confiscates to Acres " if there is a need " , said AVA

> spokesman Goh Shih Yong.

>

> Typically, it sends the animals to the Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park and

> Underwater World, depending on the species, while some are repatriated to

> the country of origin while local species may be released into the wild

> after consultation with the National Parks Board.

>

> What if members of the public try to dump their regular household pets -

> not wildlife - with the centre? It will not take them in, stressed Mr Ng.

> " We will hand them over to the appropriate NGOs. "

>

> Volunteers can sleep over

>

> Rescue work will not be Acres' main focus. Its two other missions are

> undercover work and public education; it has worked with 83 schools since

> 2001.

>

> Now, its Outdoor Conservation Classroom at the new centre will allow

> students to examine native wildlife which includes plants. They can also

> catch exhibits on wildlife protection and performances at the Lee Foundation

> Centre onsite.

>

> There is even a building specially for volunteers - it comes with dining

> and lounge areas and five bedrooms.

>

> " We want to get the public involved in our work. They can watch TV, have

> their meals or stay overnight. We want them to feel that they are part of a

> team, not that we're making use of them, " said Mr Ng.

>

> " Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign of progress

> in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

The Straits Times

> 14 August 2009

>

> Wildlife rescue centre opens

> Acres� facility to take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from smugglers

> and illegal owners

> By Grace Chua

>

> After a rocky five-year journey, the first dedicated wildlife rescue centre

> here opened its doors yesterday.

>

> The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Wildlife Rescue

> Centre will take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from smugglers and

> owners who keep them illegally.

>

> Reptiles like star tortoises and bearded dragon lizards, and Asian arowana

> fish, make up the bulk of illegal shipments confiscated here each year. Most

> confiscated animals are either repatriated or sent to zoos, the Jurong

> BirdPark or other facilities.

>

> The rescue centre will be another outlet �if there is a need�, the

> Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said. Native species taken to the centre

> will be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

>

> �Having a rescue centre is a sign that there�s a problem, but it�s also

a

> sign that society wants to solve the problem,� said Acres� 30-year-old

> founder and executive director Louis Ng.

>

> The idea for the rescue centre was sparked in 2004, after Mr Ng freed a

> vervet monkey from a cage at a factory here. The monkey, dubbed �Blue�,

was

> temporarily cared for at the Singapore Zoo before being sent to a wildlife

> sanctuary in its native Africa. This experience convinced Mr Ng, who has a

> master�s in primate conservation, of the need for such a wildlife rescue

> facility.

>

> Acres� 2ha site off Choa Chu Kang was originally slated to open in 2007,

> but construction on the project stalled due to lack of funds.

>

> The non-profit group also faced problems allegedly caused by its building

> contractor after woodchips, used to level a 100m stretch of ground, rotted

> and contaminated the area.

>

> A civil suit against A.N.A. Contractor and its director was heard in May,

> and judgment is pending.

>

> The facility�s administrative office, education centre and staff living

> quarters opened last September, and the rescue area was partially opened

> yesterday. It is able to house up to 50 animals at the moment in 3m by 3m

> cages, with veterinarians on hand to care for the sick.

>

> After judgment is passed on the suit, construction will begin on open-air

> enclosures. When complete, the centre will house up to 400 creatures.

>

> But financial worries remain.

>

> The centre has a monthly operating budget of $20,000, including for animal

> care, salaries and land rental, and the organisation has just six months�

> funding at present, said Mr Ng, who is always in search of committed

> volunteers to help out.

>

> Besides the rescue operations, Acres also carries out education and

> outreach programmes to discourage people from buying illegal exotic pets.

>

> Singapore is a wildlife smuggling hub because of its transport networks and

> proximity to sources of animals, according to wildlife trade watchdog

> Traffic. In 2007, there were 20 cases of illegal animal trading or

> possession, and the figure rose to 22 last year. This year to date, there

> have been 14 such cases.

>

> Singapore is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in

> Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), and has strict penalties

> for smuggling protected wildlife: a maximum fine of $50,000 per Cites

> species, up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to two years.

938Live

> 13 August 2009

>

> A place to call home for rescued wildlife

>

> Reptiles and amphibians rescued from illegal wildlife trade will now have a

> place to call home.

>

> This, as Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre run by the Animal

> Concerns Research and Education Society or ACRES began operations today.

>

> Speaking at the launch of the centre, Mr Lim Wee Kiat, Member of Parliament

> for Sembawang GRC points out that Singapore has to put in more effort to

> tackle the illegal wildlife trade, which is surpassed only by the

> trafficking of drugs and weapons.

>

> He adds that the number of illegal possession or import of protected

> wildlife cases here have gone down to 17 in 2008, from the 97 cases in 2004.

>

> But Singapore must not let her guard down says Mr Lim.

>

> " By the fact that we're a transportation hub, all transportation actually

> goes through Singapore. They can't transport out from a remote island

> anyway, so they will find means and ways to come through Singapore. And all

> these trade, they will not be found in your normal aquarium or pet shop,

> they will do this as a trans-shipment through to another country. "

>

> The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth around US$20 billion a

> year.

>

> According to Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network, Singapore is

> listed alongside Malaysia and Manila as the world's top ten wildlife

> smuggling hubs.

>

> Mr Louis Ng, Founder and Executive Director of ACRES, says the launch of

> the centre will not only be able to educate the public on the importance of

> rescuing wildlife but also help crackdown the illegal trade.

>

> " We do undercovers every year, that sends a very strong message to the

> traders, if you carry on selling we will catch you one day. Our volunteers

> that go undercover are armed with hidden cameras that we can use for

> prosecution. "

>

> Currently, the centre's Main Sanctuary Area is incomplete as construction

> was delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least another six

> months, pending court decision on a pollution lawsuit.

>

> The contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips onto this site, which caused

> the discharge of wastewater.

>

> ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main contractor

> and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

>

> When completed, the main sanctuary will be able to hold up to 400 rescued

> wildlife.

>

> These includes reptiles, primates and native birds.

>

> Animals like dogs will be handed over to other organisations like the SPCA.

ChannelNews Asia

> 13 August 2009

>

> Local charity launches Singapore's first dedicated wildlife rescue centre

> By Gladys Ow

>

> More efforts are being made to tackle the illegal wildlife trade in

> Singapore, which is surpassed only by the trafficking of drugs and weapons.

>

> A new shelter aims to rescue distressed animals and return them to their

> native homes.

>

> " Blue " , a Vervet monkey, is the inspiration for setting up Singapore's

> first dedicated wildlife rescue centre.

>

> Six years ago, Blue was kept illegally as a pet at a house. But thanks to

> the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), Blue became

> Singapore's first-ever primate to be repatriated home to Zambia.

>

> ACRES hopes Blue's story is only the beginning of more successful rescue

> efforts.

>

> More than 9,000 animals were seized in the last three years.

>

> At ACRES' newly-launched Wildlife Rescue Centre at Chua Chu Kang, protected

> species found will be nursed back to health, before being returned to their

> native environment.

>

> However, it is not just about tackling the illegal wildlife trade. ACRES

> also wants to educate the public on protecting animals and the environment.

>

> " Penny " has a deformed hind leg. Penny would have been put down by the

> puppy farm she was brought from if ACRES had not rescued her and cared for

> her.

>

> Penny is now the centre's mascot for education, which ACRES believes is key

> to ending animal cruelty and illegal wildlife trade.

>

> The charity has worked closely with schools and community groups since

> 2001. ACRES' education programmes, reaching over 100,000 children and adults

> every year, encourage compassion and responsible behaviour. It has worked

> with 83 schools since 2001.

>

> Louis Ng, executive director of ACRES said: " Most importantly, what we want

> to do at the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre is to create awareness, which is

> why the first block you see at the entrance is the Lee Foundation Education

> Centre.

>

> " It is not just about rescuing the animals; it's really about creating

> awareness, getting the public involved, getting them interested about this

> issue. Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign of

> progress in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

>

> Progress did not come easy for ACRES. The building of the centre's main

> sanctuary area has been delayed because of a pending court decision on a

> pollution lawsuit.

>

> It has been delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least

> another six months. Its contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips onto the

> site, which caused the discharge of wastewater into a channel linked to the

> Kranji reservoir.

>

> ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main contractor

> and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

>

> When completed, the centre can hold up to 400 rescued wildlife, including

> reptiles, primates and native birds. Pets like dogs will be handed over to

> other organisations like the SPCA.

>

>

> ---

>

> 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

> AAPN is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse the

> opinions/inputs of the contributors.

[Guest guest]

hear hear - congratulations Louis, Amy and team, you've achieved an

enormous amount under exceptionally difficult circumstances. You should

be very proud, warmly, Jill

 

wrote:

>

>

> Dear Amy and Louis,

> Wonderful achievement. Congratulations. Quite

> apart from your wildlife rescue work, I would rate your zoo surveys as

> among

> the very best in the world. I was extremely impressed with your

> research on

> Polar Bears in captivity and your efforts to improve conditions in

> Singapore

> Zoo.

> And it was the combined effort of Louis and John that got me to Singapore

> in 2005 and for that act of kindness, I remain grateful to both of you. I

> continue to admire your diverse achievements for captive animals and trust

> that you will have much more to contribute to this field. I will

> distribute

> this message far and wide.

> Well done.

> Very best as ever,

>

>

>

> On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Amy Corrigan

> <amycorrigan77 <amycorrigan77%40hotmail.com>>wrote:

>

> > TODAY

> > 14 August 2009

> >

> > After tears, delays and a lawsuit

> > Singapore's first wildlife rescue shelter opens

> > by Esther Ng

> >

> > After five long and rocky years, the Animal Concerns Research and

> Education

> > Society (Acres) finally opened its rescue shelter yesterday, a

> mission its

> > executive director and founder Louis Ng never expected would drive

> him to

> > tears.

> >

> > Funding problems delayed the opening of Singapore's first dedicated

> > wildlife rescue shelter from April 2007 to October 2007. But a month

> before

> > this scheduled launch, a foul smell necessitated soil tests - and the

> > hardest blow was finding out, in March 2008, that the animal

> enclosures were

> > sitting on 1.5 hectares of rotting wood chips, rendering the buildings

> > unstable.

> >

> > " Yes, I cried, " Mr Ng, 30, admitted. " It meant having to demolish the

> > kitchen, primate and turtle sanctuaries, and all the cages which were

> > built-to-order. They were welded to structures and could not be

> salvaged. "

> >

> > It was a huge blow to the non-profit group which had spent 18 months

> > raising $500,000 to build the 2-hectare centre. It took out a lawsuit

> > against its contractor last year.

> >

> > Even as it awaits the outcome of the legal action, the Acres Wildlife

> > Rescue Centre is resuming the rescue work it had put on hold for

> > one-and-a-half years while waiting for its premises to be built.

> >

> > In Mr Ng's words: " We have to stay positive and move on. "

> >

> > Its quarantine centre can house up to 50 animals at any one time.

> >

> > " We're focusing on just reptiles and amphibians now because they

> form the

> > bulk of illegal wildlife trade, " Mr Ng said.

> >

> > The public can call its new 24-hour hotline at 9783 7782 to report

> illegal

> > activity. In Singapore, the number of cases of illegal possession or

> import

> > of protected wildlife reached a high of 97 cases in 2004, declining

> to 17

> > cases last year. As of July this year, there were 14 cases.

> >

> > Acres will continue to pass on any tip-offs it gets to the

> authorities for

> > offences to be prosecuted. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority

> (AVA) will

> > send wildlife it confiscates to Acres " if there is a need " , said AVA

> > spokesman Goh Shih Yong.

> >

> > Typically, it sends the animals to the Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird

> Park and

> > Underwater World, depending on the species, while some are

> repatriated to

> > the country of origin while local species may be released into the wild

> > after consultation with the National Parks Board.

> >

> > What if members of the public try to dump their regular household pets -

> > not wildlife - with the centre? It will not take them in, stressed

> Mr Ng.

> > " We will hand them over to the appropriate NGOs. "

> >

> > Volunteers can sleep over

> >

> > Rescue work will not be Acres' main focus. Its two other missions are

> > undercover work and public education; it has worked with 83 schools

> since

> > 2001.

> >

> > Now, its Outdoor Conservation Classroom at the new centre will allow

> > students to examine native wildlife which includes plants. They can also

> > catch exhibits on wildlife protection and performances at the Lee

> Foundation

> > Centre onsite.

> >

> > There is even a building specially for volunteers - it comes with dining

> > and lounge areas and five bedrooms.

> >

> > " We want to get the public involved in our work. They can watch TV, have

> > their meals or stay overnight. We want them to feel that they are

> part of a

> > team, not that we're making use of them, " said Mr Ng.

> >

> > " Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign of

> progress

> > in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > The Straits Times

> > 14 August 2009

> >

> > Wildlife rescue centre opens

> > Acres� facility to take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from

> smugglers

> > and illegal owners

> > By Grace Chua

> >

> > After a rocky five-year journey, the first dedicated wildlife rescue

> centre

> > here opened its doors yesterday.

> >

> > The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Wildlife

> Rescue

> > Centre will take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from smugglers and

> > owners who keep them illegally.

> >

> > Reptiles like star tortoises and bearded dragon lizards, and Asian

> arowana

> > fish, make up the bulk of illegal shipments confiscated here each

> year. Most

> > confiscated animals are either repatriated or sent to zoos, the Jurong

> > BirdPark or other facilities.

> >

> > The rescue centre will be another outlet �if there is a need�, the

> > Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said. Native species taken to the

> centre

> > will be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

> >

> > �Having a rescue centre is a sign that there�s a problem, but it�s

> also a

> > sign that society wants to solve the problem,� said Acres� 30-year-old

> > founder and executive director Louis Ng.

> >

> > The idea for the rescue centre was sparked in 2004, after Mr Ng freed a

> > vervet monkey from a cage at a factory here. The monkey, dubbed

> �Blue�, was

> > temporarily cared for at the Singapore Zoo before being sent to a

> wildlife

> > sanctuary in its native Africa. This experience convinced Mr Ng, who

> has a

> > master�s in primate conservation, of the need for such a wildlife rescue

> > facility.

> >

> > Acres� 2ha site off Choa Chu Kang was originally slated to open in 2007,

> > but construction on the project stalled due to lack of funds.

> >

> > The non-profit group also faced problems allegedly caused by its

> building

> > contractor after woodchips, used to level a 100m stretch of ground,

> rotted

> > and contaminated the area.

> >

> > A civil suit against A.N.A. Contractor and its director was heard in

> May,

> > and judgment is pending.

> >

> > The facility�s administrative office, education centre and staff living

> > quarters opened last September, and the rescue area was partially opened

> > yesterday. It is able to house up to 50 animals at the moment in 3m

> by 3m

> > cages, with veterinarians on hand to care for the sick.

> >

> > After judgment is passed on the suit, construction will begin on

> open-air

> > enclosures. When complete, the centre will house up to 400 creatures.

> >

> > But financial worries remain.

> >

> > The centre has a monthly operating budget of $20,000, including for

> animal

> > care, salaries and land rental, and the organisation has just six

> months�

> > funding at present, said Mr Ng, who is always in search of committed

> > volunteers to help out.

> >

> > Besides the rescue operations, Acres also carries out education and

> > outreach programmes to discourage people from buying illegal exotic

> pets.

> >

> > Singapore is a wildlife smuggling hub because of its transport

> networks and

> > proximity to sources of animals, according to wildlife trade watchdog

> > Traffic. In 2007, there were 20 cases of illegal animal trading or

> > possession, and the figure rose to 22 last year. This year to date,

> there

> > have been 14 such cases.

> >

> > Singapore is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in

> > Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), and has strict

> penalties

> > for smuggling protected wildlife: a maximum fine of $50,000 per Cites

> > species, up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to two years.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > 938Live

> > 13 August 2009

> >

> > A place to call home for rescued wildlife

> >

> > Reptiles and amphibians rescued from illegal wildlife trade will now

> have a

> > place to call home.

> >

> > This, as Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre run by the Animal

> > Concerns Research and Education Society or ACRES began operations today.

> >

> > Speaking at the launch of the centre, Mr Lim Wee Kiat, Member of

> Parliament

> > for Sembawang GRC points out that Singapore has to put in more effort to

> > tackle the illegal wildlife trade, which is surpassed only by the

> > trafficking of drugs and weapons.

> >

> > He adds that the number of illegal possession or import of protected

> > wildlife cases here have gone down to 17 in 2008, from the 97 cases

> in 2004.

> >

> > But Singapore must not let her guard down says Mr Lim.

> >

> > " By the fact that we're a transportation hub, all transportation

> actually

> > goes through Singapore. They can't transport out from a remote island

> > anyway, so they will find means and ways to come through Singapore.

> And all

> > these trade, they will not be found in your normal aquarium or pet shop,

> > they will do this as a trans-shipment through to another country. "

> >

> > The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth around US$20

> billion a

> > year.

> >

> > According to Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network, Singapore is

> > listed alongside Malaysia and Manila as the world's top ten wildlife

> > smuggling hubs.

> >

> > Mr Louis Ng, Founder and Executive Director of ACRES, says the launch of

> > the centre will not only be able to educate the public on the

> importance of

> > rescuing wildlife but also help crackdown the illegal trade.

> >

> > " We do undercovers every year, that sends a very strong message to the

> > traders, if you carry on selling we will catch you one day. Our

> volunteers

> > that go undercover are armed with hidden cameras that we can use for

> > prosecution. "

> >

> > Currently, the centre's Main Sanctuary Area is incomplete as

> construction

> > was delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least

> another six

> > months, pending court decision on a pollution lawsuit.

> >

> > The contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips onto this site, which

> caused

> > the discharge of wastewater.

> >

> > ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main

> contractor

> > and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

> >

> > When completed, the main sanctuary will be able to hold up to 400

> rescued

> > wildlife.

> >

> > These includes reptiles, primates and native birds.

> >

> > Animals like dogs will be handed over to other organisations like

> the SPCA.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ChannelNews Asia

> > 13 August 2009

> >

> > Local charity launches Singapore's first dedicated wildlife rescue

> centre

> > By Gladys Ow

> >

> > More efforts are being made to tackle the illegal wildlife trade in

> > Singapore, which is surpassed only by the trafficking of drugs and

> weapons.

> >

> > A new shelter aims to rescue distressed animals and return them to their

> > native homes.

> >

> > " Blue " , a Vervet monkey, is the inspiration for setting up Singapore's

> > first dedicated wildlife rescue centre.

> >

> > Six years ago, Blue was kept illegally as a pet at a house. But

> thanks to

> > the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), Blue became

> > Singapore's first-ever primate to be repatriated home to Zambia.

> >

> > ACRES hopes Blue's story is only the beginning of more successful rescue

> > efforts.

> >

> > More than 9,000 animals were seized in the last three years.

> >

> > At ACRES' newly-launched Wildlife Rescue Centre at Chua Chu Kang,

> protected

> > species found will be nursed back to health, before being returned

> to their

> > native environment.

> >

> > However, it is not just about tackling the illegal wildlife trade. ACRES

> > also wants to educate the public on protecting animals and the

> environment.

> >

> > " Penny " has a deformed hind leg. Penny would have been put down by the

> > puppy farm she was brought from if ACRES had not rescued her and

> cared for

> > her.

> >

> > Penny is now the centre's mascot for education, which ACRES believes

> is key

> > to ending animal cruelty and illegal wildlife trade.

> >

> > The charity has worked closely with schools and community groups since

> > 2001. ACRES' education programmes, reaching over 100,000 children

> and adults

> > every year, encourage compassion and responsible behaviour. It has

> worked

> > with 83 schools since 2001.

> >

> > Louis Ng, executive director of ACRES said: " Most importantly, what

> we want

> > to do at the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre is to create awareness,

> which is

> > why the first block you see at the entrance is the Lee Foundation

> Education

> > Centre.

> >

> > " It is not just about rescuing the animals; it's really about creating

> > awareness, getting the public involved, getting them interested

> about this

> > issue. Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign of

> > progress in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

> >

> > Progress did not come easy for ACRES. The building of the centre's main

> > sanctuary area has been delayed because of a pending court decision on a

> > pollution lawsuit.

> >

> > It has been delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least

> > another six months. Its contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips

> onto the

> > site, which caused the discharge of wastewater into a channel linked

> to the

> > Kranji reservoir.

> >

> > ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main

> contractor

> > and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

> >

> > When completed, the centre can hold up to 400 rescued wildlife,

> including

> > reptiles, primates and native birds. Pets like dogs will be handed

> over to

> > other organisations like the SPCA.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill and ,

 

Thank you so much for your kind words.

 

Hope to see you all at AFA Singapore 2010!

 

Best wishes,

Louis

ACRES

 

--- Jill Robinson <jrobinson wrote:

 

> hear hear - congratulations Louis, Amy and team, you've achieved an

>

> enormous amount under exceptionally difficult circumstances. You

> should

> be very proud, warmly, Jill

>

> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Dear Amy and Louis,

> > Wonderful achievement. Congratulations. Quite

> > apart from your wildlife rescue work, I would rate your zoo

> surveys as

> > among

> > the very best in the world. I was extremely impressed with your

> > research on

> > Polar Bears in captivity and your efforts to improve conditions in

>

> > Singapore

> > Zoo.

> > And it was the combined effort of Louis and John that got me to

> Singapore

> > in 2005 and for that act of kindness, I remain grateful to both of

> you. I

> > continue to admire your diverse achievements for captive animals

> and trust

> > that you will have much more to contribute to this field. I will

> > distribute

> > this message far and wide.

> > Well done.

> > Very best as ever,

> >

> >

> >

> > On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Amy Corrigan

> > <amycorrigan77

> <amycorrigan77%40hotmail.com>>wrote:

> >

> > > TODAY

> > > 14 August 2009

> > >

> > > After tears, delays and a lawsuit

> > > Singapore's first wildlife rescue shelter opens

> > > by Esther Ng

> > >

> > > After five long and rocky years, the Animal Concerns Research

> and

> > Education

> > > Society (Acres) finally opened its rescue shelter yesterday, a

> > mission its

> > > executive director and founder Louis Ng never expected would

> drive

> > him to

> > > tears.

> > >

> > > Funding problems delayed the opening of Singapore's first

> dedicated

> > > wildlife rescue shelter from April 2007 to October 2007. But a

> month

> > before

> > > this scheduled launch, a foul smell necessitated soil tests -

> and the

> > > hardest blow was finding out, in March 2008, that the animal

> > enclosures were

> > > sitting on 1.5 hectares of rotting wood chips, rendering the

> buildings

> > > unstable.

> > >

> > > " Yes, I cried, " Mr Ng, 30, admitted. " It meant having to

> demolish the

> > > kitchen, primate and turtle sanctuaries, and all the cages which

> were

> > > built-to-order. They were welded to structures and could not be

>

> > salvaged. "

> > >

> > > It was a huge blow to the non-profit group which had spent 18

> months

> > > raising $500,000 to build the 2-hectare centre. It took out a

> lawsuit

> > > against its contractor last year.

> > >

> > > Even as it awaits the outcome of the legal action, the Acres

> Wildlife

> > > Rescue Centre is resuming the rescue work it had put on hold

> for

> > > one-and-a-half years while waiting for its premises to be

> built.

> > >

> > > In Mr Ng's words: " We have to stay positive and move on. "

> > >

> > > Its quarantine centre can house up to 50 animals at any one

> time.

> > >

> > > " We're focusing on just reptiles and amphibians now because they

>

> > form the

> > > bulk of illegal wildlife trade, " Mr Ng said.

> > >

> > > The public can call its new 24-hour hotline at 9783 7782 to

> report

> > illegal

> > > activity. In Singapore, the number of cases of illegal

> possession or

> > import

> > > of protected wildlife reached a high of 97 cases in 2004,

> declining

> > to 17

> > > cases last year. As of July this year, there were 14 cases.

> > >

> > > Acres will continue to pass on any tip-offs it gets to the

> > authorities for

> > > offences to be prosecuted. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority

>

> > (AVA) will

> > > send wildlife it confiscates to Acres " if there is a need " , said

> AVA

> > > spokesman Goh Shih Yong.

> > >

> > > Typically, it sends the animals to the Singapore Zoo, Jurong

> Bird

> > Park and

> > > Underwater World, depending on the species, while some are

> > repatriated to

> > > the country of origin while local species may be released into

> the wild

> > > after consultation with the National Parks Board.

> > >

> > > What if members of the public try to dump their regular

> household pets -

> > > not wildlife - with the centre? It will not take them in,

> stressed

> > Mr Ng.

> > > " We will hand them over to the appropriate NGOs. "

> > >

> > > Volunteers can sleep over

> > >

> > > Rescue work will not be Acres' main focus. Its two other

> missions are

> > > undercover work and public education; it has worked with 83

> schools

> > since

> > > 2001.

> > >

> > > Now, its Outdoor Conservation Classroom at the new centre will

> allow

> > > students to examine native wildlife which includes plants. They

> can also

> > > catch exhibits on wildlife protection and performances at the

> Lee

> > Foundation

> > > Centre onsite.

> > >

> > > There is even a building specially for volunteers - it comes

> with dining

> > > and lounge areas and five bedrooms.

> > >

> > > " We want to get the public involved in our work. They can watch

> TV, have

> > > their meals or stay overnight. We want them to feel that they

> are

> > part of a

> > > team, not that we're making use of them, " said Mr Ng.

> > >

> > > " Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign

> of

> > progress

> > > in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > The Straits Times

> > > 14 August 2009

> > >

> > > Wildlife rescue centre opens

> > > Acres� facility to take in reptiles and amphibians rescued

> from

> > smugglers

> > > and illegal owners

> > > By Grace Chua

> > >

> > > After a rocky five-year journey, the first dedicated wildlife

> rescue

> > centre

> > > here opened its doors yesterday.

> > >

> > > The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres)

> Wildlife

> > Rescue

> > > Centre will take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from

> smugglers and

> > > owners who keep them illegally.

> > >

> > > Reptiles like star tortoises and bearded dragon lizards, and

> Asian

> > arowana

> > > fish, make up the bulk of illegal shipments confiscated here

> each

> > year. Most

> > > confiscated animals are either repatriated or sent to zoos, the

> Jurong

> > > BirdPark or other facilities.

> > >

> > > The rescue centre will be another outlet �if there is a

> need�, the

> > > Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said. Native species taken to

> the

> > centre

> > > will be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

> > >

> > > �Having a rescue centre is a sign that there�s a problem,

> but it�s

> > also a

> > > sign that society wants to solve the problem,� said Acres�

> 30-year-old

> > > founder and executive director Louis Ng.

> > >

> > > The idea for the rescue centre was sparked in 2004, after Mr Ng

> freed a

> > > vervet monkey from a cage at a factory here. The monkey, dubbed

>

> > �Blue�, was

> > > temporarily cared for at the Singapore Zoo before being sent to

> a

> > wildlife

> > > sanctuary in its native Africa. This experience convinced Mr Ng,

> who

> > has a

> > > master�s in primate conservation, of the need for such a

> wildlife rescue

> > > facility.

> > >

> > > Acres� 2ha site off Choa Chu Kang was originally slated to

> open in 2007,

> > > but construction on the project stalled due to lack of funds.

> > >

> > > The non-profit group also faced problems allegedly caused by its

>

> > building

> > > contractor after woodchips, used to level a 100m stretch of

> ground,

> > rotted

> > > and contaminated the area.

> > >

> > > A civil suit against A.N.A. Contractor and its director was

> heard in

> > May,

> > > and judgment is pending.

> > >

> > > The facility�s administrative office, education centre and

> staff living

> > > quarters opened last September, and the rescue area was

> partially opened

> > > yesterday. It is able to house up to 50 animals at the moment in

> 3m

> > by 3m

> > > cages, with veterinarians on hand to care for the sick.

> > >

> > > After judgment is passed on the suit, construction will begin on

>

> > open-air

> > > enclosures. When complete, the centre will house up to 400

> creatures.

> > >

> > > But financial worries remain.

> > >

> > > The centre has a monthly operating budget of $20,000, including

> for

> > animal

> > > care, salaries and land rental, and the organisation has just

> six

> > months�

> > > funding at present, said Mr Ng, who is always in search of

> committed

> > > volunteers to help out.

> > >

> > > Besides the rescue operations, Acres also carries out education

> and

> > > outreach programmes to discourage people from buying illegal

> exotic

> > pets.

> > >

> > > Singapore is a wildlife smuggling hub because of its transport

> > networks and

> > > proximity to sources of animals, according to wildlife trade

> watchdog

> > > Traffic. In 2007, there were 20 cases of illegal animal trading

> or

> > > possession, and the figure rose to 22 last year. This year to

> date,

> > there

> > > have been 14 such cases.

> > >

> > > Singapore is a signatory to the Convention on International

> Trade in

> > > Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), and has

> strict

> > penalties

> > > for smuggling protected wildlife: a maximum fine of $50,000 per

> Cites

> > > species, up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to two years.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > 938Live

> > > 13 August 2009

> > >

> > > A place to call home for rescued wildlife

> > >

> > > Reptiles and amphibians rescued from illegal wildlife trade will

> now

> > have a

> > > place to call home.

> > >

> > > This, as Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre run by the

> Animal

> > > Concerns Research and Education Society or ACRES began

> operations today.

> > >

> > > Speaking at the launch of the centre, Mr Lim Wee Kiat, Member of

>

> > Parliament

> > > for Sembawang GRC points out that Singapore has to put in more

> effort to

> > > tackle the illegal wildlife trade, which is surpassed only by

> the

> > > trafficking of drugs and weapons.

> > >

> > > He adds that the number of illegal possession or import of

> protected

> > > wildlife cases here have gone down to 17 in 2008, from the 97

> cases

> > in 2004.

> > >

> > > But Singapore must not let her guard down says Mr Lim.

> > >

> > > " By the fact that we're a transportation hub, all transportation

>

> > actually

> > > goes through Singapore. They can't transport out from a remote

> island

> > > anyway, so they will find means and ways to come through

> Singapore.

> > And all

> > > these trade, they will not be found in your normal aquarium or

> pet shop,

> > > they will do this as a trans-shipment through to another

> country. "

> > >

> > > The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth around US$20

>

> > billion a

> > > year.

> > >

> > > According to Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network,

> Singapore is

> > > listed alongside Malaysia and Manila as the world's top ten

> wildlife

> > > smuggling hubs.

> > >

> > > Mr Louis Ng, Founder and Executive Director of ACRES, says the

> launch of

> > > the centre will not only be able to educate the public on the

> > importance of

> > > rescuing wildlife but also help crackdown the illegal trade.

> > >

> > > " We do undercovers every year, that sends a very strong message

> to the

> > > traders, if you carry on selling we will catch you one day. Our

>

> > volunteers

> > > that go undercover are armed with hidden cameras that we can use

> for

> > > prosecution. "

> > >

> > > Currently, the centre's Main Sanctuary Area is incomplete as

> > construction

> > > was delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least

>

> > another six

> > > months, pending court decision on a pollution lawsuit.

> > >

> > > The contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips onto this site,

> which

> > caused

> > > the discharge of wastewater.

> > >

> > > ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main

>

> > contractor

> > > and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

> > >

> > > When completed, the main sanctuary will be able to hold up to

> 400

> > rescued

> > > wildlife.

> > >

> > > These includes reptiles, primates and native birds.

> > >

> > > Animals like dogs will be handed over to other organisations

> like

> > the SPCA.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ChannelNews Asia

> > > 13 August 2009

> > >

> > > Local charity launches Singapore's first dedicated wildlife

> rescue

> > centre

> > > By Gladys Ow

> > >

> > > More efforts are being made to tackle the illegal wildlife trade

> in

> > > Singapore, which is surpassed only by the trafficking of drugs

> and

> > weapons.

> > >

> > > A new shelter aims to rescue distressed animals and return them

> to their

> > > native homes.

> > >

> > > " Blue " , a Vervet monkey, is the inspiration for setting up

> Singapore's

> > > first dedicated wildlife rescue centre.

> > >

> > > Six years ago, Blue was kept illegally as a pet at a house. But

>

> > thanks to

> > > the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), Blue

> became

> > > Singapore's first-ever primate to be repatriated home to

> Zambia.

> > >

> > > ACRES hopes Blue's story is only the beginning of more

> successful rescue

> > > efforts.

> > >

> > > More than 9,000 animals were seized in the last three years.

> > >

> > > At ACRES' newly-launched Wildlife Rescue Centre at Chua Chu

> Kang,

> > protected

> > > species found will be nursed back to health, before being

> returned

> > to their

> > > native environment.

> > >

> > > However, it is not just about tackling the illegal wildlife

> trade. ACRES

> > > also wants to educate the public on protecting animals and the

> > environment.

> > >

> > > " Penny " has a deformed hind leg. Penny would have been put down

> by the

> > > puppy farm she was brought from if ACRES had not rescued her and

>

> > cared for

> > > her.

> > >

> > > Penny is now the centre's mascot for education, which ACRES

> believes

> > is key

> > > to ending animal cruelty and illegal wildlife trade.

> > >

> > > The charity has worked closely with schools and community groups

> since

> > > 2001. ACRES' education programmes, reaching over 100,000

> children

> > and adults

> > > every year, encourage compassion and responsible behaviour. It

> has

> > worked

> > > with 83 schools since 2001.

> > >

> > > Louis Ng, executive director of ACRES said: " Most importantly,

> what

> > we want

> > > to do at the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre is to create

> awareness,

> > which is

> > > why the first block you see at the entrance is the Lee

> Foundation

> > Education

> > > Centre.

> > >

> > > " It is not just about rescuing the animals; it's really about

> creating

> > > awareness, getting the public involved, getting them interested

>

> > about this

> > > issue. Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a

> sign of

> > > progress in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

> > >

> > > Progress did not come easy for ACRES. The building of the

> centre's main

> > > sanctuary area has been delayed because of a pending court

> decision on a

> > > pollution lawsuit.

> > >

> > > It has been delayed for about two years and will be delayed by

> at least

> > > another six months. Its contractor had allegedly dumped

> woodchips

> > onto the

> > > site, which caused the discharge of wastewater into a channel

> linked

> > to the

> > > Kranji reservoir.

> > >

> > > ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main

>

> > contractor

> > > and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

> > >

> > > When completed, the centre can hold up to 400 rescued wildlife,

>

> > including

> > > reptiles, primates and native birds. Pets like dogs will be

> handed

> > over to

> > > other organisations like the SPCA.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Amy & Louis and all at ACRES,

 

Congratulations on a wonderful achievement.

 

Shows what sweat and tears can achieve.

 

Warmest regards.

 

Chinny

 

PS: Was delighted to meet your collegue Anbu at Chennai and I must say she

makes a wonderful member of Team ACRES!

 

 

>> > On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Amy Corrigan

>> > <amycorrigan77

>> <amycorrigan77%40hotmail.com>>wrote:

>> >

>> > > TODAY

>> > > 14 August 2009

>> > >

>> > > After tears, delays and a lawsuit

>> > > Singapore's first wildlife rescue shelter opens

>> > > by Esther Ng

>> > >

>> > > After five long and rocky years, the Animal Concerns Research

>> and

>> > Education

>> > > Society (Acres) finally opened its rescue shelter yesterday, a

>> > mission its

>> > > executive director and founder Louis Ng never expected would

>> drive

>> > him to

>> > > tears.

>> > >

>> > > Funding problems delayed the opening of Singapore's first

>> dedicated

>> > > wildlife rescue shelter from April 2007 to October 2007. But a

>> month

>> > before

>> > > this scheduled launch, a foul smell necessitated soil tests -

>> and the

>> > > hardest blow was finding out, in March 2008, that the animal

>> > enclosures were

>> > > sitting on 1.5 hectares of rotting wood chips, rendering the

>> buildings

>> > > unstable.

>> > >

>> > > " Yes, I cried, " Mr Ng, 30, admitted. " It meant having to

>> demolish the

>> > > kitchen, primate and turtle sanctuaries, and all the cages which

>> were

>> > > built-to-order. They were welded to structures and could not be

>>

>> > salvaged. "

>> > >

>> > > It was a huge blow to the non-profit group which had spent 18

>> months

>> > > raising $500,000 to build the 2-hectare centre. It took out a

>> lawsuit

>> > > against its contractor last year.

>> > >

>> > > Even as it awaits the outcome of the legal action, the Acres

>> Wildlife

>> > > Rescue Centre is resuming the rescue work it had put on hold

>> for

>> > > one-and-a-half years while waiting for its premises to be

>> built.

>> > >

>> > > In Mr Ng's words: " We have to stay positive and move on. "

>> > >

>> > > Its quarantine centre can house up to 50 animals at any one

>> time.

>> > >

>> > > " We're focusing on just reptiles and amphibians now because they

>>

>> > form the

>> > > bulk of illegal wildlife trade, " Mr Ng said.

>> > >

>> > > The public can call its new 24-hour hotline at 9783 7782 to

>> report

>> > illegal

>> > > activity. In Singapore, the number of cases of illegal

>> possession or

>> > import

>> > > of protected wildlife reached a high of 97 cases in 2004,

>> declining

>> > to 17

>> > > cases last year. As of July this year, there were 14 cases.

>> > >

>> > > Acres will continue to pass on any tip-offs it gets to the

>> > authorities for

>> > > offences to be prosecuted. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority

>>

>> > (AVA) will

>> > > send wildlife it confiscates to Acres " if there is a need " , said

>> AVA

>> > > spokesman Goh Shih Yong.

>> > >

>> > > Typically, it sends the animals to the Singapore Zoo, Jurong

>> Bird

>> > Park and

>> > > Underwater World, depending on the species, while some are

>> > repatriated to

>> > > the country of origin while local species may be released into

>> the wild

>> > > after consultation with the National Parks Board.

>> > >

>> > > What if members of the public try to dump their regular

>> household pets -

>> > > not wildlife - with the centre? It will not take them in,

>> stressed

>> > Mr Ng.

>> > > " We will hand them over to the appropriate NGOs. "

>> > >

>> > > Volunteers can sleep over

>> > >

>> > > Rescue work will not be Acres' main focus. Its two other

>> missions are

>> > > undercover work and public education; it has worked with 83

>> schools

>> > since

>> > > 2001.

>> > >

>> > > Now, its Outdoor Conservation Classroom at the new centre will

>> allow

>> > > students to examine native wildlife which includes plants. They

>> can also

>> > > catch exhibits on wildlife protection and performances at the

>> Lee

>> > Foundation

>> > > Centre onsite.

>> > >

>> > > There is even a building specially for volunteers - it comes

>> with dining

>> > > and lounge areas and five bedrooms.

>> > >

>> > > " We want to get the public involved in our work. They can watch

>> TV, have

>> > > their meals or stay overnight. We want them to feel that they

>> are

>> > part of a

>> > > team, not that we're making use of them, " said Mr Ng.

>> > >

>> > > " Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a sign

>> of

>> > progress

>> > > in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > > The Straits Times

>> > > 14 August 2009

>> > >

>> > > Wildlife rescue centre opens

>> > > Acres� facility to take in reptiles and amphibians rescued

>> from

>> > smugglers

>> > > and illegal owners

>> > > By Grace Chua

>> > >

>> > > After a rocky five-year journey, the first dedicated wildlife

>> rescue

>> > centre

>> > > here opened its doors yesterday.

>> > >

>> > > The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres)

>> Wildlife

>> > Rescue

>> > > Centre will take in reptiles and amphibians rescued from

>> smugglers and

>> > > owners who keep them illegally.

>> > >

>> > > Reptiles like star tortoises and bearded dragon lizards, and

>> Asian

>> > arowana

>> > > fish, make up the bulk of illegal shipments confiscated here

>> each

>> > year. Most

>> > > confiscated animals are either repatriated or sent to zoos, the

>> Jurong

>> > > BirdPark or other facilities.

>> > >

>> > > The rescue centre will be another outlet �if there is a

>> need�, the

>> > > Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said. Native species taken to

>> the

>> > centre

>> > > will be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

>> > >

>> > > �Having a rescue centre is a sign that there�s a problem,

>> but it�s

>> > also a

>> > > sign that society wants to solve the problem,� said Acres�

>> 30-year-old

>> > > founder and executive director Louis Ng.

>> > >

>> > > The idea for the rescue centre was sparked in 2004, after Mr Ng

>> freed a

>> > > vervet monkey from a cage at a factory here. The monkey, dubbed

>>

>> > �Blue�, was

>> > > temporarily cared for at the Singapore Zoo before being sent to

>> a

>> > wildlife

>> > > sanctuary in its native Africa. This experience convinced Mr Ng,

>> who

>> > has a

>> > > master�s in primate conservation, of the need for such a

>> wildlife rescue

>> > > facility.

>> > >

>> > > Acres� 2ha site off Choa Chu Kang was originally slated to

>> open in 2007,

>> > > but construction on the project stalled due to lack of funds.

>> > >

>> > > The non-profit group also faced problems allegedly caused by its

>>

>> > building

>> > > contractor after woodchips, used to level a 100m stretch of

>> ground,

>> > rotted

>> > > and contaminated the area.

>> > >

>> > > A civil suit against A.N.A. Contractor and its director was

>> heard in

>> > May,

>> > > and judgment is pending.

>> > >

>> > > The facility�s administrative office, education centre and

>> staff living

>> > > quarters opened last September, and the rescue area was

>> partially opened

>> > > yesterday. It is able to house up to 50 animals at the moment in

>> 3m

>> > by 3m

>> > > cages, with veterinarians on hand to care for the sick.

>> > >

>> > > After judgment is passed on the suit, construction will begin on

>>

>> > open-air

>> > > enclosures. When complete, the centre will house up to 400

>> creatures.

>> > >

>> > > But financial worries remain.

>> > >

>> > > The centre has a monthly operating budget of $20,000, including

>> for

>> > animal

>> > > care, salaries and land rental, and the organisation has just

>> six

>> > months�

>> > > funding at present, said Mr Ng, who is always in search of

>> committed

>> > > volunteers to help out.

>> > >

>> > > Besides the rescue operations, Acres also carries out education

>> and

>> > > outreach programmes to discourage people from buying illegal

>> exotic

>> > pets.

>> > >

>> > > Singapore is a wildlife smuggling hub because of its transport

>> > networks and

>> > > proximity to sources of animals, according to wildlife trade

>> watchdog

>> > > Traffic. In 2007, there were 20 cases of illegal animal trading

>> or

>> > > possession, and the figure rose to 22 last year. This year to

>> date,

>> > there

>> > > have been 14 such cases.

>> > >

>> > > Singapore is a signatory to the Convention on International

>> Trade in

>> > > Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), and has

>> strict

>> > penalties

>> > > for smuggling protected wildlife: a maximum fine of $50,000 per

>> Cites

>> > > species, up to $500,000 and/or a jail term of up to two years.

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > > 938Live

>> > > 13 August 2009

>> > >

>> > > A place to call home for rescued wildlife

>> > >

>> > > Reptiles and amphibians rescued from illegal wildlife trade will

>> now

>> > have a

>> > > place to call home.

>> > >

>> > > This, as Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre run by the

>> Animal

>> > > Concerns Research and Education Society or ACRES began

>> operations today.

>> > >

>> > > Speaking at the launch of the centre, Mr Lim Wee Kiat, Member of

>>

>> > Parliament

>> > > for Sembawang GRC points out that Singapore has to put in more

>> effort to

>> > > tackle the illegal wildlife trade, which is surpassed only by

>> the

>> > > trafficking of drugs and weapons.

>> > >

>> > > He adds that the number of illegal possession or import of

>> protected

>> > > wildlife cases here have gone down to 17 in 2008, from the 97

>> cases

>> > in 2004.

>> > >

>> > > But Singapore must not let her guard down says Mr Lim.

>> > >

>> > > " By the fact that we're a transportation hub, all transportation

>>

>> > actually

>> > > goes through Singapore. They can't transport out from a remote

>> island

>> > > anyway, so they will find means and ways to come through

>> Singapore.

>> > And all

>> > > these trade, they will not be found in your normal aquarium or

>> pet shop,

>> > > they will do this as a trans-shipment through to another

>> country. "

>> > >

>> > > The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth around US$20

>>

>> > billion a

>> > > year.

>> > >

>> > > According to Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network,

>> Singapore is

>> > > listed alongside Malaysia and Manila as the world's top ten

>> wildlife

>> > > smuggling hubs.

>> > >

>> > > Mr Louis Ng, Founder and Executive Director of ACRES, says the

>> launch of

>> > > the centre will not only be able to educate the public on the

>> > importance of

>> > > rescuing wildlife but also help crackdown the illegal trade.

>> > >

>> > > " We do undercovers every year, that sends a very strong message

>> to the

>> > > traders, if you carry on selling we will catch you one day. Our

>>

>> > volunteers

>> > > that go undercover are armed with hidden cameras that we can use

>> for

>> > > prosecution. "

>> > >

>> > > Currently, the centre's Main Sanctuary Area is incomplete as

>> > construction

>> > > was delayed for about two years and will be delayed by at least

>>

>> > another six

>> > > months, pending court decision on a pollution lawsuit.

>> > >

>> > > The contractor had allegedly dumped woodchips onto this site,

>> which

>> > caused

>> > > the discharge of wastewater.

>> > >

>> > > ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main

>>

>> > contractor

>> > > and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

>> > >

>> > > When completed, the main sanctuary will be able to hold up to

>> 400

>> > rescued

>> > > wildlife.

>> > >

>> > > These includes reptiles, primates and native birds.

>> > >

>> > > Animals like dogs will be handed over to other organisations

>> like

>> > the SPCA.

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > >

>> > > ChannelNews Asia

>> > > 13 August 2009

>> > >

>> > > Local charity launches Singapore's first dedicated wildlife

>> rescue

>> > centre

>> > > By Gladys Ow

>> > >

>> > > More efforts are being made to tackle the illegal wildlife trade

>> in

>> > > Singapore, which is surpassed only by the trafficking of drugs

>> and

>> > weapons.

>> > >

>> > > A new shelter aims to rescue distressed animals and return them

>> to their

>> > > native homes.

>> > >

>> > > " Blue " , a Vervet monkey, is the inspiration for setting up

>> Singapore's

>> > > first dedicated wildlife rescue centre.

>> > >

>> > > Six years ago, Blue was kept illegally as a pet at a house. But

>>

>> > thanks to

>> > > the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), Blue

>> became

>> > > Singapore's first-ever primate to be repatriated home to

>> Zambia.

>> > >

>> > > ACRES hopes Blue's story is only the beginning of more

>> successful rescue

>> > > efforts.

>> > >

>> > > More than 9,000 animals were seized in the last three years.

>> > >

>> > > At ACRES' newly-launched Wildlife Rescue Centre at Chua Chu

>> Kang,

>> > protected

>> > > species found will be nursed back to health, before being

>> returned

>> > to their

>> > > native environment.

>> > >

>> > > However, it is not just about tackling the illegal wildlife

>> trade. ACRES

>> > > also wants to educate the public on protecting animals and the

>> > environment.

>> > >

>> > > " Penny " has a deformed hind leg. Penny would have been put down

>> by the

>> > > puppy farm she was brought from if ACRES had not rescued her and

>>

>> > cared for

>> > > her.

>> > >

>> > > Penny is now the centre's mascot for education, which ACRES

>> believes

>> > is key

>> > > to ending animal cruelty and illegal wildlife trade.

>> > >

>> > > The charity has worked closely with schools and community groups

>> since

>> > > 2001. ACRES' education programmes, reaching over 100,000

>> children

>> > and adults

>> > > every year, encourage compassion and responsible behaviour. It

>> has

>> > worked

>> > > with 83 schools since 2001.

>> > >

>> > > Louis Ng, executive director of ACRES said: " Most importantly,

>> what

>> > we want

>> > > to do at the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre is to create

>> awareness,

>> > which is

>> > > why the first block you see at the entrance is the Lee

>> Foundation

>> > Education

>> > > Centre.

>> > >

>> > > " It is not just about rescuing the animals; it's really about

>> creating

>> > > awareness, getting the public involved, getting them interested

>>

>> > about this

>> > > issue. Now we have 18,000 supporters in our database. Is that a

>> sign of

>> > > progress in Singapore? Without a doubt it is. "

>> > >

>> > > Progress did not come easy for ACRES. The building of the

>> centre's main

>> > > sanctuary area has been delayed because of a pending court

>> decision on a

>> > > pollution lawsuit.

>> > >

>> > > It has been delayed for about two years and will be delayed by

>> at least

>> > > another six months. Its contractor had allegedly dumped

>> woodchips

>> > onto the

>> > > site, which caused the discharge of wastewater into a channel

>> linked

>> > to the

>> > > Kranji reservoir.

>> > >

>> > > ACRES is awaiting the decision of the judge on whether the main

>>

>> > contractor

>> > > and its director are liable to ACRES in this regard.

>> > >

>> > > When completed, the centre can hold up to 400 rescued wildlife,

>>

>> > including

>> > > reptiles, primates and native birds. Pets like dogs will be

>> handed

>> > over to

>> > > other organisations like the SPCA.