Channel NewsAsia 3 Dec 13;
SINGAPORE: Four men have been charged in court and fined for dealing illegally in wild animals and birds in two separate cases.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said it was tipped off about the online sales of illegal wildlife in June 2013.
Following investigations, it seized two sugar gliders and two hedgehogs from the man who was hawking them online.
He was charged in court on 26 November and fined S$4,000.
The animals were sent to Wildlife Reserves Singapore for care and custody.
In the second case, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority caught three men smuggling six mata puteh birds in toothpaste boxes in September.
The birds were seized and sent to Jurong Bird Park for care and custody.
The three men were charged in court last Tuesday, and fined S$6,000 each for illegally importing the birds and subjecting them to unnecessary suffering.
AVA reminded the public that it is an offence to import and export or re-export any animal without a permit.
It is also an offence to possess, sell or advertise any wildlife or their parts or products that have been imported illegally.
It said strict measures on the import of live animals and birds are needed to safeguard Singapore from the introduction of animal diseases.
It also reminded the public that importing or keeping wild animals as pets would fuel illegal wildlife trade.
- CNA/xq
60 animals seized from those possessing them illegally
Tiara Hamarian Today Online 4 Dec 13;
SINGAPORE — As of October, some 60 animals, such as hedgehogs, snakes and birds, have been seized from people possessing them illegally, according to numbers released by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) yesterday.
In total, there were 17 cases of those caught for the illegal possession of wildlife. Between 2008 and this year, three such cases were brought to court and the offenders were fined between S$4,000 and S$8,000, said the AVA.
In one case, a man who was illegally hawking wild animals online was charged in court last week under the Wild Animals and Birds Act and fined S$4,000.
The AVA had seized two sugar gliders and two hedgehogs from him in June. The animals have since been under the care and custody of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
The AVA has taken enforcement action against those who were not charged in court, such as through the issue of warning letters and fines.
From 2008 to this year, offenders have been fined between S$100 and S$5,000.
There were also 13 cases of illegal wildlife trade as of October.
A case was brought to court in September, after the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority caught three men smuggling six mata puteh (Oriental White-eye birds) in toothpaste boxes.
They were fined S$6,000 each for the illegal import of the birds and subjecting them to unnecessary suffering.
Members of the public with information on the illegal wildlife trade and possession can contact the AVA at 6325 7625 or submit feedback through the authority’s website.
