Alleged bear gall bladder seized at Singapore Food Expo

Mustafa Shafawi Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 10;

SINGAPORE : Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) said a tip-off from a member of the public resulted in the seizure of an alleged gall bladder at the Singapore Food Expo yesterday.

Bear products have been banned by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which Singapore is a party to.

Investigators from ACRES were told by the seller (recorded on video) that the gall bladder which he's selling for S$700 was from a bear and was brought in from China.

He had only one gall bladder left as he had already sold the rest.

The seller said he could order and have them delivered to Singapore.

ACRES passed on the information to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) whose officers responded immediately and seized the product.

AVA is currently investigating the case.

Previous ACRES undercover investigations in 2001 and 2006 revealed the presence of an illegal trade in alleged bear products in Singapore.

Some 20 per cent of Traditional Chinese Medicine shops surveyed in 2006 sold alleged bear products.

Director of ACRES Wildlife Crime Unit, Anbarasi Boojpal, said this continued trade creates a demand for bear products and fuels the exploitation of bears held in bear farms. - CNA/jy