UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATIONS, SURVEYS AND ADVOCATING FOR A CHANGE

Since 2001, ACRES has conducted regular undercover investigations to determine whether there is an illegal trade in certain wild animal products in Singapore and, if so, what are the levels of trade, and what animals are affected. Findings have been applied to strategise our outreach efforts for demand reduction, and published in reports, which you can download by following the links below.

Results from these investigations have been passed to the authorities, and as a result there have been nationwide crackdowns on the illegal wildlife trade, with numerous traders and owners of prohibited wild animals and wildlife products have being prosecuted or receiving warning letters.

2023 REPORT: INVESTIGATION REPORT ON ONLINE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN SINGAPORE: WITH RECOMMENDATIONS (Click to read full report)

Have you ever reported prohibited wildlife sale ads online, only to be met with a frustrating “No violations found” response? We hear you. Despite education and enforcement efforts, it is clear that online platforms and encrypted app chats have become a growing challenge to tackle in combatting the Illegal Wildlife Trade. ACRES has been receiving valuable tips from you, the public, reporting prohibited wildlife sales. Day in, day out, we flag ads or file with NParks for enforcement action.

NParks has nabbed some sellers on Telegram, however our investigation surveys in 2021 and 2023 have reveal a disturbing 196% increase in prohibited wild animals offered and a 586% rise in individual sellers. In just 122 days, 993 prohibited wild animals were being advertised for sale on three Telegram chats – that’s 8 prohibited wild animals a day, just on three chats! 🦂🐢🐍🦎

And this figure doesn’t even account for the illegal online sale of (legally) allowed companion animals like dogs, hamsters, birds and cats by unlicensed individuals, potentially numbering in the hundreds or more daily.

Read the full report here, to see our recommendations pushing for policies to hold online platforms and digital service providers legally responsible, to ensure that these listings are swiftly removed and measures are put in place to shut down such groups. Our heartfelt gratitude to Pearlie Peh (SMU Law) for her background research in 2021, that helped pave the way for further research for this report. Singapore’s Online Criminal Harms Act is a positive step in the right direction, preventing harmful (to humans) content being shared on these platforms. Similar reforms are happening globally, but are harms to biodiversity and animals not harms to our society too? Queries on this report can be directed to anbu@acres.org.sg 

2022 REPORT: SURVEY INTO PET SHOP WELFARE CONDITIONS FOR BIRDS IN SINGAPORE AND RECOMMENDATIONS

ACRES conducted an undercover investigative survey from October 2020 to February 2021 into the conditions of shops in Singapore displaying and selling birds. These conditions are a requirement under the Animals and Birds Act (Chapter 7, Section 80) Animals and Birds (Pet Shop and Exhibition) Rules. From the results of the investigation, there appears to be flouting of the Pet Shop Licence Conditions, and poor standards in over 61% (19 out of 31 shops) of the pet shops investigated. In 2016, ACRES’s investigation findings revealed 27 out of 36 shops (75%) [see 2016 report here] flouted at least one condition that is directly related to the welfare of the birds.

Even though there is an improvement from the previous investigation, these findings highlight an urgent need for review of the current conditions for display of birds in pet shops.

Recommendations: The current (as of Feb 2022) pet shop licensing conditions are very subjective and the two investigations in 2016 and 2021 have identified that they need urgent review on the following items:

(i) Clearly define what “overcrowding” means for different group of birds;

(ii) Recognise the diverse needs of various species of birds sold in the conditions by defining “compatible species” and “suitable perches”;

(iii) Recognise the complexity of behaviours and needs of the diverse species of birds sold, and lay out conditions beyond simply “must be able to move freely and comfortably and their tails and outspread wings should not touch the sides of the cage”; and

(iv) Recognise the complexity of behaviours and needs of the diverse species of birds kept by public, and incorporate them into the animal welfare code for pet owners in Singapore. Most birds such as doves are kept in appallingly tiny cages in households which does not allow any form of natural behaviour for the bird, but meets only food and water provision needs. Detailed recommendations can be found in the full report here.

Update as of 18 Feb 2022: In January 2022, ACRES met with NParks on the findings and mainly the recommendations for the review of the pet shop licensing conditions for birds and code of animal welfare for (pet) bird owners. Similar to the animal welfare legislative committee, ACRES proposed focus group discussions to engage relevant stakeholders to improve the welfare conditions of these birds, which NParks welcomed. NParks shared that there is an ongoing review of the pet shop licensing conditions and will look into ACRES’s recommendations. ACRES looks forward to working closely with NParks and the relevant stakeholders on the review of licensing and welfare conditions for bird shops and bird owners.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO PET SHOP CONDITIONS FOR BIRDS IN SINGAPORE 2016

We conducted an undercover investigation in August-September 2016 into the conditions of licensed pet shops in Singapore displaying and selling birds. We examined those conditions which could be evaluated solely on visual examination. We investigated a total of 45 shops displaying and selling birds.

Out of the 36 shops that displayed birds for sale, 27 pet shops (75%) breached one or more of the Pet Shop Licence Conditions. The breaches were obvious upon a purely visual examination. As such, members of the public are equally capable of monitoring pet shops in Singapore. The public is encouraged to be the check and balance of the pet industry – to complement AVA’s efforts – as consumer demand wields much influence over industry practices. In order to improve industry standards, we recommend that AVA actively educates the public on the animal welfare conditions applicable to pet shops and advise consumers to make responsible choices.

We also surveyed the online advertisements on sale of birds from June 2016 to August 2016 respectively. Four platforms were chosen to conduct the survey. The online advertisements on sale of birds revealed a total of 655 advertisements online, with 273 of the 655 (41.7 %) of the ads for CITES listed bird species. The Animals and Birds Act also requires that any person keeping animals and birds in captivity for sale, export or exhibition in any place should be licensed by the AVA. The presence of online advertisements without licensed premises and the resulting enforcement challenges on ad-by-ad basis raise serious concerns on uncontrolled online trading in live animals.

Full investigation report here.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ILLEGAL TRADE IN TIGER PARTS IN SINGAPORE 2015

A two-month undercover investigation by the ACRES Animal Crime Investigation Unit has revealed a significant decline in the trade in tiger parts in shops in Singapore.

Conducted between March and April 2015, ACRES found only 4 out of 153 (2.6%) jewellery and antique shops in Singapore offering alleged tiger teeth and claws for sale, compared to a similar ACRES investigation in 2010 where 59 out of 134 (44.0%) jewellery and antique shops in Singapore offered alleged tiger parts for sale.

Jewellery and antique shops were targeted in the 2010 and 2015 investigations as tiger parts are sought-after by reason of the belief that they bring good luck to the bearer, and will protect the bearer against evil.

During the covert island-wide investigation this year, more than half of the shopkeepers approached told investigators that the sale of tiger parts was prohibited by authorities, or required permits. Several shopkeepers said they stopped selling tiger parts after the authorities fined them and confiscated their products several years ago. 1 shopkeeper claimed to have known of the prohibition because of an investigation conducted by an animal welfare organisation about 5 years ago.

Even the shops found during the 2015 investigations to be offering alleged tiger parts for sale did so knowing it was illegal. A total of 13 pieces of alleged tiger parts were offered for sale and prices ranged from S$70 to S$538.

The full report can be found here and the press release here.

2001 and 2006 investigations into the illegal bear parts trade

In 2001 and 2006, ACRES, in collaboration with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), embarked on undercover investigations to uncover any illegal trade in bear products (especially bear bile and gall bladders) in Singapore.

These investigations followed revelations by bear farmers in China (1999-2000) that Singapore was one of the markets for bear bile products and gall bladders for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and that they were illegally exporting bear bile products to Singapore.

The trade in bear products results in the inhumane exploitation of bears held in deplorable conditions on bear farms. Wild bears are also being killed for their parts to be used in TCM, pushing endangered species such as the Asiatic black bear closer to extinction.

2006 investigation

We conducted an undercover investigation into the illegal trade in bear products in Singapore for TCM from May until October 2006. A total of 23 TCM shops (20.0% of shops surveyed) were found offering alleged bear products for sale to ACRES investigators (recorded on video).
The products being sold were alleged intact gall bladders, bear bile pills and bear bile powder. Most were not openly displayed.

We presented our findings to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and, as a direct result of the investigation, six shops were fined under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 2006 (ESA) and 17 shops were given warning letters.

Although the trade continues, we are encouraged that the investigation revealed a significant drop in the trade in bear products since the 2001 investigation and, together with the authorities and the TCM industry, ACRES continues to work towards the day when there will be no longer be an illegal trade in bear products in Singapore.

Following this investigation, ACRES is now working closely with the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (STOC) and the AVA to eradicate the trade in endangered species for TCM in Singapore.

Download the full report “An Investigation into the Illegal Trade in Bear Products in Singapore (2006)” here.

2001 investigation

A previous undercover investigation by ACRES in 2001 revealed that 50 out of 68 TCM shops investigated (or 73.5%) were selling alleged bear products.

As a direct result of this investigation, one shopkeeper and one importer of bear products were prosecuted.

Following this investigation, ACRES made key recommendations and submitted reports on curbing the illegal trade in bear parts to several authorities, including the AVA, the Customs and Excise Department, the Singapore Police Force, Health Sciences Authority and TCM associations. ACRES also held meeting meetings with some of these authorities.

Download the full report “The Trade in Bear Gall Bladder and Bear Bile Products in Singapore (2001)” here.

2003 investigation into the illegal tiger parts trade

A 2003 newspaper article in the Jakarta Post reported that the trade in tiger parts was a lucrative business in Singapore, and that Sumatran tiger bones were “worth thousands” in Singapore according to Mr. Sapto Sakti of the World Wide Fund for Nature in Indonesia. The numerous ports in the province of Riau, Sumatra, were said to act as exit points for smugglers to bring tigers to Singapore. It was also reported that dealers in Singapore were thought to be buying tiger bone and pelts from Sumatra and selling it on elsewhere.

We decided to investigate whether there was any evidence of illegal trading in tiger parts in Singapore. In 2003, ACRES, in collaboration with The New Paper, conducted a series of undercover investigations into the illegal trade in tiger products in Singapore.

The investigations revealed that alleged tiger parts, including tiger bones, tiger paws and tiger penises, were on sale in Traditional Chinese Medicine stores in Chinatown. Three shops were found to be selling alleged tiger parts and video evidence was obtained in each case.

The selling and display of tiger parts has been illegal in Singapore since 1994. At the time of this investigation, the penalties for illegal import or possession of tiger parts were a maximum fine of $5000 and/or jail term of three months. The penalties for violating the domestic ban on selling tiger parts and products were a fine of up to $2000 and/or a jail term of one year.

The products were said to come from Indonesia and, although tiger parts were said to be harder to acquire these days, all shopkeepers said that they could probably obtain more stock if required.

The results of the investigation were published in an article in The New Paper. The video evidence collected was submitted to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

Following this investigation, ACRES is now working closely with the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee (STOC) and the AVA to eradicate the trade in endangered species for TCM in Singapore.

2005 investigation into the illegal reptile trade

In 2005, ACRES embarked on an undercover investigation into the illegal exotic pet trade in Singapore. This followed on from several sightings of prohibited species being openly on sale in pet shops throughout Singapore. We decided to investigate further the extent of this illegal trade and establish which species were being sold illegally and by which shops.

We surveyed a total of 100 randomly-selected pet shops throughout Singapore, recording any instances of illegal animal trading. The results were then passed to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

Results of investigation

The results of the survey were startling, with an alarmingly high number of illegal animals found being traded, most quite openly.

One in five pet shops (20%) were found to be selling prohibited animals, in contravention of local laws. In total, 111 animals were recorded on sale illegally, mostly of species which face a high risk of extinction in the wild according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In many cases, the prohibited animals were on sale openly. However, in some cases the animals were hidden away, and shop keepers were caught on film admitting that selling these animals was illegal.

A total of five species of non-native animals were found being illegally sold, in contravention of local laws and international agreement. These were the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), the Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Ocadia sinensis), the pig-nosed turtle(Carettochelys insculpta), the Australian snake-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis) and the Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica).

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle is a species not before encountered by ACRES being traded in Singapore. This species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species and faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild but was, however, found openly on sale in many of the shops. The Chinese soft shelled turtle and the pig-nosed turtle similarly face a high risk of extinction in the wild.

The law in Singapore

Most wild animals are prohibited as pets in Singapore. The list of prohibited species includes all reptiles (except the red-eared slider and the Malayan box turtle.) The sale or even display of these prohibited animals is an offence under Singapore law.

Pet shops in possession of prohibited species contravene the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, the Wild Animals and Bird Act and the Birds and Animals Act.

Outcome of investigation

The results of the investigation, including a list of all the shops selling illegal animals and details of how many animals and of what species were being sold at each shop, were presented to the AVA, together with all the undercover footage obtained.

On the 27th of June 2005, officers from the AVA and the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Team raided three pet shops that had been found selling illegal animals. A total of 47 animals were confiscated.

Some shopkeepers claimed ignorance, especially in the case of the Chinese stripe-necked turtle, which they claimed they thought was the red-eared slider (the only reptile allowed to be sold in Singapore at that time). However, this is very hard to believe as the two species look very different. Added to this, all shops were selling the two species at different prices, so they obviously knew they were different!

A press conference was held by ACRES on the 22nd of July to reveal the findings of the investigation. The story received widespread coverage in local newspapers including Today, The Straits Times and LianHe Wan Bao, and was also covered by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

The current situation

ACRES continues to keep a watch on pet shops, and we are pleased to say that we have not seen the Chinese stripe-necked turtle on sale since the investigation. Hopefully this species has been successfully prevented from entering the illegal pet trade in Singapore as a result of our investigation and subsequent action by the authorities.

Take action!

You can help us to be our eyes and ears. If you see any prohibited animals on sale illegally in pet shops, please call the ACRES Wildlife Crime Hotline on 97837782.

2009/2010 investigation into the illegal tiger parts trade

ACRES undercover investigation results in biggest seizure of alleged tiger parts in Singapore to date, bringing us one step closer to wiping out the illegal trade in tiger parts in Singapore.

Following the latest ACRES undercover investigation into the illegal tiger parts trade and subsequent action by the authorities, the illegal trade in tiger parts here in Singapore could soon be a thing of the past.

From December 2009 to February 2010, undercover investigators from ACRES, posing as buyers, found shockingly large numbers of alleged tiger parts illegally on sale in Singapore, in jewellery shops and antique shops.

A total of 59 shops out of the 134 shops visited offered alleged tiger parts for sale, including approximately 159 alleged tiger claws, 303 alleged tiger teeth and 38 pieces of alleged tiger skin.

The investigation results and video footage obtained were passed to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), who then investigated 161 shops, including the 134 surveyed in the ACRES investigations, and seized a total of 320 pieces of alleged tiger parts from 30 shops. This was the biggest seizure of alleged tiger parts in Singapore to date.

The AVA fined 26 of the shops sums of between S$500 and S$3000. We are delighted that the swift action by the AVA has resulted in bringing those involved in the illegal trading of alleged tiger parts to task.

We are confident that, with the awareness created by the media coverage of the ACRES investigation and with the support of the public in reporting any instances of alleged tiger parts on sale, together we can end the trade in tiger parts in Singapore. ACRES will continue to raise awareness among the public about the illegal wildlife trade, and how they can help to wipe it out. If anyone sees alleged tiger parts on sale, they can call the ACRES Wildlife Crime Hotline on 97837782.

“As long as there is demand, there will be supply. Legislation alone is insufficient to bring a complete halt to the illegal trading of endangered species and their parts. We must do more public education and awareness so demands for them can be curbed and supply will then terminate” said Dr. Lim Wee Kiak, Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC.

Download the full ACRES report “An Investigation into the Illegal Trade in Tiger Parts in Singapore (2010)” here.

Tigers and the illegal tiger parts trade

Tigers are critically endangered. Around a century ago, more than 100,000 tigers roamed the world’s jungles and forests. Today, less than 3,200 remain in the wild. Three subspecies of tiger have become extinct within the last 50 years and, despite the inclusion of Asian big cat species in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), the illegal trade in specimens of nearly all these species has escalated and further threatens their long-term survival in the wild.

All commercial tiger trade has been banned since 1987 by CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which Singapore is a party to.

In Singapore, under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA), it is an offence to import, export and re-export any CITES species without a permit from AVA. The possession, sale, offering or exposing or advertising for sale or displaying to the public of any illegally imported CITES specimen is also an offence. The penalties, on conviction, are a fine of $50,000 (per species), not exceeding an aggregate of $500,000 and/or 2 years imprisonment.

Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) (Prohibition of Sale) Notification, the domestic sale of tiger specimens is prohibited. Any person who sells, offers or exposes for sale or displays to the public any tiger parts and products commits an offence. The offender shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 for each species (but not to exceed in the aggregate $100,000) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to both.

It is important to note that anyone who advertises for sale any tiger parts contravenes the above Act, even if the products turn out to be not authentic. By making a claim that the product is from tigers, the dealer is potentially driving up the demand for tiger parts, which directly contravenes the spirit of CITES and the local legislation meant to enforce CITES.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF), Singapore has previously been recognised as playing a role in the trade of tiger products from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, for both domestic trade and international re-exports. Indeed, previous investigations by ACRES in 2003 and from 2008-2009 found alleged tiger parts on sale in Traditional Chinese Medicine stores and other locations in Singapore.

Wildlife Crime Hotline

Wiping out the illegal wildlife trade is no small task, and ACRES urges everyone in Singapore to get involved to make this happen.

In 2004, ACRES launched the ACRES Wildlife Crime Hotline (97837782), for people to blow the whistle on anyone illegally trading in or owning prohibited wild animals or wild animal parts in Singapore.

Since its launch, calls to the Hotline have resulted in the rescue of hundreds of animals from the illegal wildlife trade, and countless wildlife traders being brought to task.

Working with the TCM industry

ACRES works with the Traditional Chinese Medicine to eliminate the use of endangered species in TCM and promote the use of herbal alternatives to medicines made from endangered animal parts. Through our joint “ACRES & STOC Endangered Species-Friendly TCM Labelling Scheme” we are encouraging the TCM traders in Singapore to keep illegal endangered species parts off their shelves.

Read more here.

Public awareness

Only once the demand for wildlife products stops will the wildlife trade end. Even with laws in place, there will always be those who flout the law to make money from trading in wild animals and their parts illegally.

Education is therefore key to wiping out the wildlife trade. We need to make people aware of the devastating consequences for animals and the environment should they choose to buy a prohibited wildlife product or keep a wild animal as a pet.

Additionally, we have found that many people have bought wildlife products and exotic animals as pets in Singapore without even knowing that it was against the law. Educating people of the illegality of the wildlife trade is also vital to reduce the trade.

ACRES launched our Wipe Out the Wildlife Trade Before It Wipes Them Out awareness campaign in 2004, to raise public awareness on the wildlife trade through public roadshows, talks, awareness materials, media articles, PSAs, MRT advertisements etc. and the campaign continues to this day. ACRES also raises awareness on the illegal wildlife trade through our various education programmes at the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC).

Read more about the Wipe Out the Wildlife Trade Before It Wipes Them Out campaign here.

Putting a stop to poaching

Putting a stop to poaching
ACRES responds to reports from members of the public regarding poaching of wild animals. We respond to cases and issue advisories to poachers to educate them on the ill effects of poaching and to also ensure that they are aware that it is illegal to do so. We inform AVS as well, providing pertinent information for further investigation based on the severity of the case and also for repetitive poaching activities. We conduct regular anti-poaching patrols at hotspots based on our database, looking out for signs of poaching activity.

Most importantly, to combat poaching in Singapore, we continue educating members of the public through emails and roadshows on how to effectively identify and report poaching incidents. Through these educational efforts, we aim to arm individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize and report instances of poaching. By increasing awareness and engaging more eyes in our battle to end animal cruelty, we can work together to protect our wildlife.