First Aid - What You Can Do for Injured or Abandoned Wild Animals

Native wild animals

If you come across a native wild animal in Singapore please, in most instances, leave him/her where he/she is. Never pick up a healthy young wild animal, even if he/she looks alone and lost. In the vast majority of cases, the parents are never far away. Removing wild animals from their natural habitat is a criminal offence for the majority of species in Singapore.

However, there are some occasions when a wild animal may need human assistance. If you find a wild animal who is obviously in distress or severely injured, you can call the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Hotline on 97837782 for advice and assistance, and we will quickly be on our way to help the animal.

The following are useful guidelines to follow if you are concerned about a wild animal:

When does an animal need rescuing?

1. When the animal's parent(s) are known to be dead (young, unweaned animals).
2. When the animal is thin, cold, weak or appears sick.
3. When the animal is injured.
4. When there are flies buzzing around or crawling on the animal.
5. When the animal is in obvious danger.
6. When the animal has been in the mouth of a cat.
7. When a bird’s nest containing chicks has fallen out of a tree and cannot be put back (however if you do find a nest on the ground, if possible put it back into the nearest tree without touching the chicks).

When NOT to rescue.

1. When you would endanger yourself or others.
2. When the animal appears healthy (adult and young animals).
3. When one or both parents remain alive or are probably still alive (young animals).
4. When the injury is old and the animal appears in good health.
5. When you have to chase the animal (try again later and call ACRES for assistance-do not stress the animal).

Call the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Hotline for advice on 97837782. The ACRES Wildlife Rescue Team will be dispatched to come and rescue the animal.

If the animal needs immediate assistance, is in immediate danger or may escape, you can execute the rescue whilst awaiting help from ACRES to arrive as follows:

• Where possible, we do not recommend picking animals up with your hands, even wearing gloves. If an animal is severely injured or immobile, simply place a container over the top of him/her. Then slide the lid or a thin board underneath, then gently turn the container so the animal ends up in the bottom and then cap it. Make sure there are breathing holes in it.
• Treat for mild shock.
  1. Keep the animal WARM (80-85 degrees; 90 degrees for neonates).
  2. Keep the animal QUIET.
  3. Keep the animal in a DARK container.

Transporting the animal

If you come across a wild animal in critical condition and wish to immediately take him or her to the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre or a nearby veterinarian please follow the following guidelines:

1. DON'T play the radio when transporting an animal.
2. DON'T put the animal in the back of a pick-up truck.
3. DON'T put an unconscious animal on the seat of your car or leave him/her uncontained in your car. ALWAYS contain him/her.
4. Use air conditioner sparingly, if at all. Animals in shock cannot regulate their body temperature. A temperature that is too cool could place them in an irreversible shock condition.
5. If others are with you, speak in a low voice. Try to keep conversation to a minimum.

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Abandoned exotic animals

Exotic wild animals who are illegally sold and kept as pets in Singapore are often found abandoned in parks and nature reserves, discarded by owners who no longer wish to take care of them. They may also be found wandering around housing areas, or in fact anywhere in Singapore. These animals often cannot survive in Singapore’s environment and may slowly starve to death or succumb to disease. If they do survive, they will compete with our native wild animals for resources and unbalance the delicate balance of our natural ecosystems, perhaps even wiping out native wild animal populations.

If you find a non-native wild animal in Singapore please call the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Hotline 97837782 and we will dispatch our rescue team immediately to come and rescue the animal.

Some of the species you are most likely to come across are the star tortoise, pig-nosed turtle and green iguana, but there are many others.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we cannot take in abandoned red-eared sliders at the AWRC, as it is not illegal to keep them as pets in Singapore and they are not a native species. The AWRC is only licensed for abandoned or surrendered exotic reptiles and amphibians who were being illegally kept as pets in Singapore, or for native species.