Singapore: Seeking the green light for animal sanctuaries

[Guest guest]

Singapore: Seeking the green light for animal sanctuaries

 

The Straits Times

 

June 24, 2005

 

By Chang Ai-Lien

 

 

 

Plans for halfway house on Pulau Ubin for confiscated wildlife get in-principle

OK

 

 

 

Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre could be set up on Pulau Ubin, to

provide a home for illegal animals brought into Singapore and confiscated by the

authorities.

 

 

 

The non-profit animal-rights group Acres has received in-principle approval from

the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to set up the shelter, which will

house primates, small carnivores and non-venomous snakes.

 

 

 

" We can't go on giving these animals to the zoo, which simply doesn't have the

room, " Acres president Louis Ng said on Wednesday, " So the centre would be like

a halfway house for the animals before they are repatriated to other countries,

though we may have to keep some of them for life. "

 

 

 

But before it raises the estimated $500,000 needed to set up the facility, Acres

is waiting for the Singapore Land Authority- which suggested several sites on

Ubin- to get approval from the Law Ministry for use of the land, he added.

 

 

 

Acres, or the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, said together with

the AVA, it has rescued 60 wild animals since last November following tip-offs

from the public. They include monkeys, exotic spiders and tortoises.

 

 

 

The rustic island of Ubin would be an ideal location for the sanctuary, as it

would make it difficult for people who bought wild animals as pets on a whim to

dump them there, said Mr Ng.

 

 

 

All animals there would be micro-chipped, and the centre would have open-air

enclosures for primates, and vets to make sure the animals are healthy.

 

 

 

Members of the public will also be allowed to visit the facility on guided

tours, he added, speaking on the sidelines of an international animal-welfare

conference here.

 

 

 

Nature Society Singapore president and Nominated MP Geh Min, who officially

opened the Asia for Animals conference on Wednesday, also highlighted

Singapore's lack of a wildlife rescue centre.

 

 

 

" Its important to look at what happens when such animals are confiscated. We

can't always introduce them into the wild, " she said.

 

 

 

The AVA, in confirming its approval of the centre, said confiscated animals are

donated to institutions such as the Singapore Zoo, Jurong BirdPark and

Underwater World in Sentosa. Major seizures are returned to the country of

origin, while sick animals are put down humanely.

 

 

 

People with information on anyone keeping and selling exotic pets may call the

AVA on 6227-0670 or Acres' 24-hour hotline on 9783-7782.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Great job, Louis.

 

Chinny Krishna

Blue Cross of India