Staff at Acres are not in it for the money - full-time caregivers start at just $500 a month
April Chong, Straits Times 26 Apr 08;
THE Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) has just built a brand new shelter in Sungei Tengah, but the executive director of the non-profit agency has mixed feelings about it.
Although the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre can house up to 400 animals, it is a testament to the size of the animal welfare problem here, said Mr Louis Ng.
'We don't want to run an animal rescue centre. We want to try to end (the illegal animal trade) instead,' he said.
The centre, which will be operational by the end of the year, will be able to hold gibbons, star tortoises and other animals that have been imported illegally into the country.
Made possible by corporate and public contributions, it will also include an indoor classroom, outdoor education hubs, quarantine facilities, and staff and volunteer quarters.
Acres was set up in 2001 by a group of Singaporeans who were passionate about helping animals.
The society has conducted more than 230 roadshows and talks on animalwelfare issues, ranging from topics like the illegal wildlife trade to the effect of captivity on dolphins. It has also worked closely with schools and students on community projects.
Acres operates a 24-hour Wildlife Crime Hotline on 9783-7782 for whistle-blowers who want to shed light on illegal animal ownership or trading.
In the past two years, more than 180 wild animals, ranging from reptiles to primates, have been rescued as a result of Acres' work.
In 2001, Acres volunteers posed as buyers at 68 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shops selected randomly.
Of these, 50, or 74per cent, of the shops were found to be selling suspected bear bile and gall bladders - illegal commodities here.
A report of its findings was sent to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, resulting in the arrest of some merchants. The move also raised awareness about the trade in bear products.
When Acres went undercover again in 2006, it found that the number of TCM shops offering bear products had dropped to one in five.
Last year, Acres signed a deal with the Singapore TCM Organisations Committee and launched a labelling scheme aimed at ending trade in products from endangered species.
TCM shops committed to not selling products from endangered species receive a special label which they can put on their shop windows.
Mr Ng reckons that one in four TCM shops in Singapore now bears the label.
Besides keeping watch on the illegal animal trade, Acres volunteers also monitor the welfare of animals in captivity and promote animal-friendly tourism.
Its staff members are not in it for the money - full-time animal caregivers start at a monthly salary of just $500.
'We are looking for people who are really passionate about this,' said Mr Ng, who draws a monthly pay of $1,400.
As part of its fund-raising efforts, Acres will be holding a gala dinner on May 23 at the Orchid Country Club in the hope of raising $90,000 for its wildlife-protection efforts.
More about Acres on their website.
