Keeping watch over wildlife

Straits Times 13 Dec 09;

Once a month, intrepid nature lover Ben Lee, 48, leads 10 to 25 volunteers to patrol nature areas such as Bukit Batok Nature Park and Pulau Ubin, and nature reserves like Bukit Timah.

Their quarry: poachers or illegal wild animal trappers.
Mr Ben Lee (above) pointing out waterbirds in the swamp to Terence Goh on a nature appreciation trip. He believes that many people would like to take ownership and do the right thing. -- ST FILE PHOTO

In 2000, Mr Lee founded the group, Nature Trekker Singapore, to provide a platform for nature conservation and appreciation.

He said: 'In 2000, I was at Khatib Bongsu when I saw people trapping birds and netting fishes without anyone stopping them.

'If nothing is done to stop such activities, the public may perceive them as legal, which is not right.'

Mr Lee leads patrols every month for three to four hours each time.

He said that Nature Trekkers Singapore now has more than 3,000 members, up from 2,968 in June last year.

One success story Mr Lee cited was his discovery of four to five big animal traps on Pulau Ubin over two years from 2005. It led to their removal.

He has seen the rise of similar citizen patrols since he started his group, with many small nature or environmental groups being formed.

He said: 'I believe that many people would like to take ownership and do what they feel is right instead of simply relying on the authorities.

'An individual can't do much but a non-profit organisation is better positioned to take action.'

Shuli Sudderuddin

Tracking down cat abusers
Shuli Sudderuddin, Straits Times 13 Dec 09;

News that yet another cat has been viciously killed by an animal abuser is always a call to action for Ms Pauline Tan.

The 36-year-old financial consultant, together with two like-minded friends, has taken to patrolling neighbourhoods where cat abuse cases have been reported.

They hand out fliers asking for help in looking for the culprit, who is typically someone from the area.

Four years ago, Ms Tan and her two friends started a group, Paw Pledge, to help catch and sterilise stray cats.

Around that time, they also noticed that cat abuse was on the rise.

They decided to take the initiative to start anti-cat abuse patrols, and to help the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals distribute fliers to create public awareness about such abuse.

The fliers cite actual incidents and sometimes offer a reward for information.

Each patrol lasts a few hours and takes place whenever abuse is reported.

Paw Pledge also catches, neuters and releases cats in the neighbourhoods.

Said Ms Tan: 'We started with the aim of raising funds for sterilisation, but the number of abuse cases seems to be rising rapidly.

'Cats cannot fight back when attacked, so we are fighting on their behalf.'

Added Paw Pledge member Fiona Yuen, 35, who works in sales: 'When abuse happens in a neighbourhood, we can't afford to have kittens running around any more as they may be next. So we get the cats in the area sterilised.'