Graphic design by Amanda

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) stated that it handled 105 cases of possession, sale and trade of live wild animals. The illegal trading was mainly done through Singapore’s borders and online sales from 2013 to 2017.

The five most common illegal wildlife seized by AVA are star tortoises, hedgehogs, ball pythons, sugar gliders and leopard geckos.

1. TRANSIT HUB FOR ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

Singapore is seen as a primary concern for wildlife trade monitoring network. Illegal traders make use of Singapore’s strategic geographical location to carry out such illegal activities. Since Singapore is a transit hub, smugglers take advantage of its connectivity and strong links through the air and sea.

Just this year in 2019, Singapore has reported a case of 815 birds being smuggled via Woodlands Checkpoint.

2. ONLINE ILLEGAL TRADE

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) raised the concern of Online sites that have spiraled illegal trade of wildlife. In 2017, ACRES Animal Crime Investigation Unit picked up more than 500 online advertisements offering banned wildlife. Furthermore, since there is a lack of verification, this leads to little regulations and control of online sales. Below shows an example of an advertisement posted online in Singapore advertising the sale for exotic pets.

Singapore has a long history of involvement in the bird trade. CITES has analysed the bird trade industry and highlights that between 2005 and 2014, Singapore has issued 225 561 imports and 136 912 exports of birds to over 30 countries. This involved 212 species where 30 were classified by the IUNC (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. Major exporters to Singapore included the Solomon Islands, the Netherlands, Taiwan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa. Major importers from Singapore included Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and Japan. This highlights the country’s role as a major international hub for the global aviculture industry.

To understand further on the bird trade industry in Singapore, TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce) underwent an assessment of the bird trade in Singapore’s pet shops. Surveys of 39 pet shops, listed by AVA as licensed to sell birds, were conducted over four days in November and December 2015. TRAFFIC has reported that 67% of the total number of encountered birds were flagged as species that are endangered or threatened.

Below are some of the findings (and vulnerability based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species):

1. Critically endangered species

2. Endangered species