Updates On 11th Apr 2015
ACRES 
Apr 11, 2015 
ACRES, NGOs 
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KEEP THEM WILD AND FREE: HELP US WIPE OUT WILDLIFE CRIME
A wakeup call to all want-to-be exotic pet owners in Singapore!
A Singaporean was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint on the 25th of March 2015 attempting to smuggle a bearded dragon and an iguana, hidden in the spare tyre compartment of his car, into the country. He had purchased the animals in Malaysia, allegedly with the intention of keeping them as pets. His intended pets cost him $5,000 in composition fines.
As iguanas are listed under Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). In Singapore, this means that he could have been convicted and fined up to $50,000, and/or be imprisoned for up to two years, for the iguana alone.
Animals that cannot be kept legally are sometimes coveted as trophy pets for bragging rights. But at the time of purchase, buyers are either ignorant of, or disregard the fact that wild animals will usually grow in size, and/or are likely to become unmanageable or undesirable as pets later on. If the animal does not die a tortured death from improper care or lack of veterinary treatment, reckless abandonment may result. The abandoned animal is likely to die, endure prolonged suffering, and – in the case of non-native animals – irreparably damage our local ecosystem and kill off local species.
Committing a crime is neither cool nor something to brag about!
In another case, Herman Rahmat was charged on two counts for smuggling twelve birds from Vietnam into Singapore, and causing the birds unnecessary suffering or pain. He had stuffed the birds into PVC pipes, and denied them food and drink throughout the journey. Eight out of the twelve birds died (i.e. two thirds).
Herman was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for both counts. He could have been fined up to $10,000 and/or imprisoned up to twelve months for each count.
Smuggling birds is a barbaric act of cruelty. As with this case, the birds being smuggled are squeezed into small spaces, deprived food and water, and put through immense stress. Most do not come out of it alive.
The selling and keeping of most wild animals is a crime in Singapore. Report the illicit sale and keeping of wild animals to ACRES by calling our Wildlife Crime Hotline at 97837782, or sending an e-mail to info@acres.org.sg.
#ACRES #EndAnimalCruelty #StopWildlifeTrade #IWantToBeWild #LiveFree
Photo credit: ICA/AVA
Source: https://www.facebook.com/ACRESasia/photos/a.223077136522.136..
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