Acres press release: Time to completely ban shows involving wild animals in Singapore and improve the welfare of animals in captivity

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For immediate release

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

27 April 2005

 

 

 

TIME TO COMPLETELY BAN SHOWS INVOLVING WILD ANIMALS IN SINGAPORE AND IMPROVE THE

WELFARE OF ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY

 

 

 

SINGAPORE 27 APRIL- The recent incidents at two of the establishments (Singapore

Zoo and Night Safari) of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) involving

carnivores escaping and even attacking members of the public raises serious

concerns, both in terms of public safety and animal welfare. The incidents

involve the daytime escape of a jaguar at the Singapore Zoo and a serval

attacking a member of the public during an animal show at the Night Safari.

 

 

 

In 2002, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) imposed a

local ban on performing wild animals in traveling circuses. According to AVA's

press release, " AVA is initiating this restriction on travelling circuses in the

interest of public safety and animal welfare. AVA has been monitoring the

incidences of mishaps and abuse associated with performing wild animal in

traveling circuses in recent years. The number of such accidents has been

increasing. In some cases, the accidents have resulted in serious injuries and

death to both trainers and the public. "

 

 

 

AVA's ban however did not include the performances involving wild animals at

captive facilities in Singapore. In light of the recent attack by a serval

during an animal show at a WRS's establishment, clearly AVA's rationale for the

ban on performing wild animals in traveling circuses should be applied to WRS's

establishments as well and the wild animal performances should be banned.

 

 

 

Animal attacks at WRS's establishments are not a new phenomenon. Past attacks

include a chimpanzee biting into a girl's finger so deeply that it was almost

severed and an elephant goring a keeper, puncturing his lungs and fracturing his

ribs in 2001.

 

 

 

The recent escape at a WRS's establishment is also not an isolated event. A

panther, hippopotamus, orang utan, tiger and chimpanzee have all previously

escaped from their enclosures into the public area.

 

 

 

Dr Chris Furley from the Singapore Zoo states " its wrong to say the zoo is 100

per cent safe " , indicating that there might be more escapes or attacks. WRS's

establishments house large species of carnivore which are known to kill humans

and receive more than one million visitors a year at their captive facilities.

If they cannot guarantee the safety of their visitors, then maybe they should

not be open to the public or perhaps they should not be allowed to house these

large carnivores. These repeated escapes and attacks on the public by dangerous

animals make it obvious that WRS has not learned from its past mistakes and has

failed to identify the short-comings in its safety protocols.

 

 

 

WRS should also note that Section 289 of the Penal Code (Chapter 224, Statutes

of the Republic of Singapore), states:

 

 

 

" Whoever knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any animal in

his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human

life, or any probable danger of grievous hurt from such animal, shall be

punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with fine

which may extend to $1,000, or with both. "

 

 

 

The regular escapes also raise doubts with regard to the welfare of these

captive animals. Scientists from the Oxford University have concluded that the

keeping of naturally wide ranging carnivores, such as polar bears and big cats

(tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, etc), should be either fundamentally improved

or phased out. Scientists state that captive carnivores have difficulty adapting

to life in zoos because they miss the variety of the wide ranges they roam in

the wild.

 

 

 

Louis Ng, biologist and President of the Animal Concerns Research and Education

Society (Acres), said " Perhaps the animals at the Singapore Zoo are trying to

escape because they are seeking more stimulation, space and varied environment,

which they are currently not being provided. Despite the current provision of

enrichment, it is clear that the animals' needs are not being met. It is also

simply fortunate that these escapes and attacks have not resulted in more

serious injuries and death. We might not be so lucky the next time. "

 

 

 

Acres, a local animal welfare charity, has written to AVA urging the government

to extend the ban on performing wild animals in traveling circuses to include

performances involving wild animals at WRS's establishments.

 

 

 

Acres also appeals to WRS to take the initiative and end the use of wild animals

in their shows and drastically improve the welfare of the animals currently in

captivity at the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

 

 

 

Acres has also started an online petition

(http://www.petitiononline.com/zooshow/petition.html) and we urge the public to

sign the petition and support our call. The petition will be handed over to WRS.

 

 

 

Contact:

 

Louis Ng

 

Email: louis)

 

Office: +65 6296 7758

 

Handphone: +65 9796 8592

 

- ends -

 

 

 

 

· Acres is a local animal welfare charity aimed at fostering respect and

compassion for all animals. Acres' approach to raising animal welfare issues 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.