NEWS
ACRES IN THE NEWS
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MediaCorp Radio
19 May 2006
Asha, a female monkey will be flying home to India
A female rhesus macaque called Asha that was illegally kept here as a pet, will be flying home to India today.
The monkey, a non-native species, will be looked after by the Wildlife SOS Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in New Delhi.
Louis Ng, Executive Director for the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, said the animal was found in a warehouse about 2 years ago.
"She was just chained up to a pole in the outdoors so there wasn't really enough shelter from the rain and the sun. In fact it was raining and the rain was just pouring down on her. Our first priority was actually to send her back to where she came from and that was probably India."
Asha was rescued and was then looked after by the Singapore Zoo as Singapore does not have a sanctuary for confiscated animals.
Mr Ng has advised Singaporeans against keeping exotic animals as pets.
"It is illegal to keep monkeys as pets. Its illegal to keep snakes, iguanas, tarantulas, these are all against the law and now the penalty has actually been increased to 50 000 dollars per animal and or 2 years jail. If the public knows of anyone keeping primates, snakes, iguanas, tarantulas as pets then do give us a call on our 24 hour hotline. it's 9783 7782 and we will respond accordingly."
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