The cage that was allegedly set up by AVA contractor Jack Pang at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve's Kampong Trail on July 16. It is illegal to capture animals in nature reserves without approval from the commissioner of parks and recreation. -- PHOTO: AMANDA TAN
I applaud the National Parks Board (NParks) for commencing investigations against a government contractor for allegedly setting up a monkey trap illegally in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, where monkeys do no harm to visitors and nearby residents ("Contractor caught in 'monkey business'"; last Sunday).
As a concerned resident, I would like the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to assure the public that the contractor will not be carrying out further trapping activities while he is under investigation.
This should apply to his employees as well.
The AVA also has a responsibility to ensure that its contractors are not engaging in illegal activities to make money, since they are reportedly paid for every monkey they catch.
The NParks' probe should send a clear deterrence message to trappers islandwide.
I hope the AVA will not sub-contract the trapping of monkeys to errant trappers.
Going forward, it should take a more sound and scientific approach to managing macaque-human interactions.
Vinita Ramani Mohan (Ms)