ST News: Hotline to snare animal smugglers

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Nov 4, 2004

Hotline to snare animal smugglers

by Chang Ai-lien<br> Science Correspondent

 

 

 

A LOCAL animal rights group has upped the ante on animal smugglers and people

here who keep illegal exotic pets by starting a hotline for anyone with tip-offs

and planning to go undercover to buy prohibited pets from syndicates.

 

The group, the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), says it

will work closely with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) in its

investigations.

 

'We're empowering people to take action against this cruel trade,' said Acres

president Louis Ng yesterday.

 

AVA's Wildlife Regulatory Branch head Lye Fong Keng told The Straits Times that

the hotline would be another avenue to encourage people to come forward to

report on illegal wildlife activities.

 

Ms Lye said: 'Acres would not be able to investigate on its own, but it can act

as our extra eyes and ears, and alert us on any illegal wildlife trade

activities in Singapore or assist AVA in investigations, like any other

civic-minded member of the public.'

 

However, she added, only authorised officers such as police and customs

officials can search premises and seize illegal wildlife.

 

Acres, a non-profit organisation formed by a group of Singaporeans three years

ago, says that more than half of smuggled animals die and even surviving ones

mostly end up mistreated.

 

Co-founded by Mr Ng, a National University of Singapore biology graduate, it

has about 100 members, including four full-time staff.

 

'These animals rarely survive for long in captivity and removing them from

their natural habitat damages the fragile ecosystem in which they live, as well

as threatening the species' existence,' it said.

 

Apart from the 24-hour Wildlife Crime Hotline, 9783-7782, for people to call,

Acres said that it is also holding a month-long road show to help create

awareness.

 

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

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which aims to protect some 30,000 animals and

plants, some of which face extinction because of commercial trade.

 

Surrounded by countries rich in biodiversity, the Republic is a transhipment

hub for trade in animals, plants and their by-products. Some groups believe it

is also a centre for the illegal wildlife trade.

 

AVA said it works closely with other national enforcement agencies, countries

in the region and international bodies to combat such crimes.

 

Anyone caught importing or exporting animals which fall under the Endangered

Species Act without a permit can be fined up to $5,000 per species and jailed

for up to one year.

 

Eight people have been put behind bars in the past four years for doing so.

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