AVA to strike balance between nuisance created by monkeys and how they are treated

Channel NewsAsia 21 Feb 14;

SINGAPORE: The Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will try to balance the welfare of monkeys with the feedback it receives about the nuisance they cause, said Minister of State for National Development Maliki Osman in Parliament on Friday.

Dr Maliki said the AVA takes the matter seriously.

He explained: "We want to strike a balance between the nuisance that's created by monkeys and the way we treat (them), in relation to how we manage the coexistence of the monkeys and human beings.

"We hope that they can continue living in the nature reserves, but they do come out of that space and intrude on the space of our residents, and we're quite concerned about that."

The AVA received more than 1,800 complaints from the public about monkeys last year.

Dr Maliki said the AVA will work with animal welfare groups to help manage some of the challenges involved.

At the same time, he added residents must learn how to manage the nuisance created by monkeys.

Referring to media reports about a contractor who used rubbish bins to trap monkeys, Dr Maliki said the AVA is investigating the incident, but added that the authority allows such methods.

He said rubbish bins are no different from other equipment such as cages, and could be more effective in capturing monkeys which have grown wary of cages.

He said all contractors engaged by the AVA must comply with its guidelines on the capture, handling and transportation of the monkeys.

"They can only carry out control operations at designated areas, and use methods and equipment approved by AVA.

"During these operations, they must be on-site to monitor the trap and to remove the trapped monkeys as soon as possible."

Dr Maliki said the AVA also conducts random checks on its contractors to ensure that they comply with the guidelines.

- CNA/fa

[wildsingapore update: These were the written question submitted by NMP Faizah Jamal:

To ask the Minister for National Development (a) whether AVA and its contractors follow a set of protocols with regard to monkey-trapping activities; (b) if so, what are these protocols and approved methods and how are they enforced; and (c) whether trappers who are recently found using rubbish bins as traps at nature reserve borders are trappers given permits by AVA.

Channel NewsAsia did not carry a video clip of this exchange in Parliament

The official transcript will be available on Parliamentary Reports Hansard 7 working days after the event. This post will be updated with the official transcript when it is available.]

Government’s Monkey-trapping Protocols
from Singapore Parliament Reports (HANSARD)

2 Ms Faizah Jamal asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether AVA and its contractors follow a set of protocols with regard to monkey-trapping activities; (b) if so, what are these protocols and approved methods and how are they enforced; and (c) whether trappers who are recently found using rubbish bins as traps at nature reserve borders are trappers given permits by AVA.

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister of National Development): Mdm Speaker, all contractors engaged by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) must comply with AVA’s guidelines on the capture, handling and transportation of the monkeys. They can only carry out control operations at designated areas, and use methods and equipment approved by AVA. During these operations, they must be on-site to monitor the trap and to remove the trapped monkeys as soon as possible. AVA also conducts random checks on its contractors to ensure their compliance to the guidelines.

AVA is investigating the case involving its contractor who used rubbish bins as monkey traps, as reported in the media. AVA allows the use of rubbish bins as traps as they do not cause any harm to the monkeys during the capture. The bins are no different from other equipment such as cages, and could be more effective in capturing monkeys which have grown wary of cages.

Ms Faizah Jamal (Nominated Member): Mdm Speaker, I have three supplementary questions. Given the fact that the recent incident actually happened near Upper Pierce Reservoir, which is a nature reserve, whereas the actual reason for culling is meant for residential areas, does it mean then that the permit lacks clarity as to what they can and cannot do? Perhaps they are to be given proper oral instructions from AVA?

If I could get some clarification as to how much does AVA each trapper and if there is any indication that I can get on how many monkeys have been culled over the last year. Finally, what is the long-term strategy that AVA is planning instead of culling? Particularly in this case, where if you think about it, rubbish bins are actually a lot more cruel than cages, which at least have some kind of ventilation, and which provides some safety for the animal as well as for the public at large who happened to be passing by these public areas.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Madam, I think there were several questions there. First, on the safety of the animals and the bins, the bin is one of the approved methods and that is not the only one that has used in Singapore; we use cages. As I have said, monkeys do get familiar and cages are a lot more apparent to them when you put the baits around the cage. The bin traps are also used by the authorities in Hong Kong and they have proven to be affective.

AVA gives clear guidelines to its contractors and there are guidelines for the capture, the handling and transportation of the animals. We try to minimise the discomfort to the animals when the animals are captured. The contactors are expected to be onsite. The moment they set up the traps, the way the bin trays work, is that the spring is at the bottom of the bin. We put baits there and when the animal goes in, and they press on the string, the cover is closed. The contractors are nearby. They are supposed to immediately bring the monkeys to the AVA for inspection.

We are very mindful of the welfare and the well being of the animals. At the same time, on the question on where they site the traps, the Member is right. We do not send them to the nature reserves. Some of these monkeys are very fast. The contractors are giving the site where the feedback was given, and oftentimes, this is near the residential areas. They will not go into the nature reserves but they set up traps where there are feedback of the sighting of monkeys and the nuisance that has been created by the monkeys.

To the question of how many has been captured by AVA, I think in the region of about 500 has been captured. In 2013 alone, AVA received about 1,800 feedback from the public related to monkeys. I do not think that is a small number. On average, that is about five feedback a day. I think we take it quite seriously.

We want to strike a balance between the nuisance that’s created by monkeys and the way we treat the monkeys in relation to how do we manage the co-existence of the monkeys and human beings. We hope that they continue to be in the nature reserves and continue to be there. The more they come out of that space and intrude on the space of our residents - and our residents are giving us those feedback – we get concerned about that.

In the longer term, we have to try to work with animal welfare groups to ask for their cooperation also to help us mange some of these challenges. Our residents need to also understand how to manage the monkey nuisance, but really, it is very tough. We live in an urban environment. Many of our youngsters grow up in an urban setting, not quite used to such intrusions, if I may call it.

The Member also asked about the long-term plans of AVA. AVA looks at it on both perspective: looking at the welfare and well being of the animals, at the same time, understanding the concerns and responding to the feedback that I have received by the residents when it comes to the monkey nuisance.