S'pore labelled 'a hub for illegal wildlife trade'

[Guest guest]

28 January 2005

 

TODAY

 

S'pore labelled 'a hub for illegal wildlife trade'

Strategic position may be attracting organised crime, says AVA

By Jasmine Yin

 

ILLEGAL wildlife trade is on the rise in Singapore, according to

statistics from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

 

There were 97 cases reported last year, up from 68 cases the year

before, and an almost three-fold increase from the 34 cases in 2000.

 

Star tortoises, turtle eggs, hard corals, snakes and iguanas are

some of the most common illegal wildlife and wildlife products

seized during AVA raids.

 

In October last year, for example, 40,000 pieces of air-dried python

and monitor lizard skins worth $800,000 were seized from an

Indonesian tugboat carrying crates of plywood products here.

 

The reptile skins, which were hidden among the plywood products in

five of the crates, were to be imported into Singapore for sale and

distribution. The captain was fined $5,000 and jailed for three

months.

 

Wildlife trade is very lucrative, said Miss Lye Fong Keng, head of

AVA's Wildlife Regulatory Branch.

 

" Organised crimes may generate profits comparable to smuggling of

arms, drugs or people. Globally, the illegal wildlife trade is

estimated to be worth billions of US dollars annually. "

 

The number of high-profile cases has led conservation groups to

label Singapore a hub for illegal wildlife activities.

 

Responded Miss Lye: " Singapore is strategically located in a region

that is rich in biodiversity. AVA and other enforcement agencies

such as the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority are working

closely to step up checks on wildlife consignments that pass through

Singapore. "

 

The AVA also attributes the steady rise in the number of reported

cases over the last few years to greater public awareness of the

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora (Cites), which Singapore is a signatory of.

 

Enforcement officers stationed at various checkpoints have also been

educated on Cites, and the modes of wildlife smuggling operations.

 

The exploitation of Singapore's geography for illegal wildlife

activities worries the local non-profit Animal Concerns Research and

Education Society (Acres).

 

The problem could be the lenient penalties for smugglers or owners

of illegal wildlife and wildlife products, said its deputy executive

director, Miss Tamara Emir. An offender currently faces a fine of up

to $5,000 (or $10,000 for repeat offenders) and/or one year's jail

term under the Endangered Species Act.

 

" There is a definite need to alter the current legislation. The

penalty ought to be in relation to the number of animals involved,

contrary to the current ruling of number of species. The penalty

seems to be merely a slap on the wrist, " she said.

 

According to the AVA, there were four repeat offenders between the

years 2000 and 2004.

 

Noting that greater affluence and the Internet have made

Singaporeans more able and willing to purchase live exotic — and

often illegal — wildlife as pets, Acres says that individuals have

an important role to play in stopping illegal wildlife trade.

 

Last year, the AVA investigated 21 cases of people possessing live

illegal wildlife. The largest seizure occurred on Dec 21, when 26

animals were confiscated.

 

The AVA said there is a common misconception that keeping exotic

wildlife as pets is " cool " .

 

It warns that these illegal animals can spread diseases to humans

and domestic animals and keeping them in homes could compromise the

animals' welfare.

 

Said Miss Lye: " It is not 'cool' to keep and show off exotic

wildlife as pets. Keeping illegal exotic pets is an irresponsible

act. "