Cruel display of tortoises and turtles at museum

Straits Times 31 Jul 10;

MY MOTHER is visiting Singapore and has had a very enjoyable few weeks being out and about every day, taking in the wonderful sights and sounds that the city has to offer.

However, recently, she had, in her words, 'one of the worst experiences of her life' when she visited the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum of Singapore.

Many of the tortoises were displayed alone in very confined spaces on bare concrete floors without access to food or water.

One of the museum's highlights is an 82-year-old tortoise that is sadly destined to spend the rest of its life - potentially another 118 years - confined to a concrete tank, without seeing another tortoise.

The turtles are treated no better, cruelly displayed in stark tanks without space to swim - an inexcusable confinement for these beautiful creatures.

In the words of the museum's website, 'it is a common Chinese belief that turtles and tortoises represent longevity and good fortune' - but that definitely isn't the case for any of the unfortunate animals kept at this facility.

There should be no place in modern, vibrant Singapore for this morally reprehensible, exploitative 'tourist attraction' that harms the international reputation of the city.

Isn't it time for the Government to intervene?

Russell Eley

Museum's tortoises, turtles well cared for
Straits Times Forum 6 Aug 10;

I THANK Mr Russell Eley for his letter last Saturday ('Cruel display of tortoises and turtles at museums').

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has checked on the tortoises and turtles kept at the museum to ensure that their welfare is not compromised. They are kept in large ponds or in glass tanks with sufficient space for them to move about. These enclosures are cleaned and maintained. In addition, the ponds have demarcated dry areas for the tortoises and turtles to rest. We have advised the owner of the museum to increase tank sizes accordingly as the tortoises and turtles grow bigger.

The tortoises and turtles are fed regularly. Many at the museum are captive-bred and it is not advisable to release them as they will be vulnerable in the wild.

As for the 82-year-old tortoise, it was found injured many years ago and was rescued. The tortoise is kept apart from the other tortoises as it requires special care and attention.

Goh Shih Yong
Deputy Director, Media Division
for Chief Executive Officer
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority