NEWS
ACRES PRESS RELEASE
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TODAY
12 October 2006
Animal haven
Acres rescue centre up by April, needs $1m
By Sheralyn Tay
STAR tortoises rescued from suffocating suitcases and green iguanas freed from small cages could have a safe haven by April, when the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) begins operations.
Located at Sungei Tengah Agrotech Park , Singapore 's first wildlife rescue centre will be able to house about 400 wild species such as pig-nosed turtles, star tortoises, primates such as gibbons and macaques, and snakes — all of which are prohibited as pets here.
Efforts will be made to repatriate as many as possible — but for those creatures that can't be, the rainforest-like environs of the rescue centre will become their permanent home, said Acres. About 4,000 wild animals have been confiscated from dealers and homes or given up by the public since 2001, and these have gone to the Singapore Zoo.
But in April, the zoo said its quarantine facilities were full. This made the need for the AWRC quite "urgent", said Acres president and executive director Louis Ng. When contacted, the zoo clarified that it was still accepting animals referred by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
It also stressed — in an apparent response to an Acres press release — that "regardless of how many confiscated animals are received, the zoo does not euthanise animals that fall under Cites Appendix 1 unless for health reasons".
Apart from housing animals, the rescue centre aims to increase awareness of the illegal pet trade, as most people are not aware that some animals sold in pet shops are prohibited, said Mr Ng.
An Acres survey of 100 shops last year found one in five selling prohibited animals — species classified as facing extinction.
Day tours and other programmes for visitors that bring them up close with the centre's animals, will help them learn which species are illegal more easily "than, say, showing them pictures or giving a talk".
Education can also help put a stop to the unwitting cruelty of ignorant pet owners.
The pig-nosed turtle, for example, is often bought and released into the wild by Buddhists as part of their religious activities, said Mr Ng.
"But many people don't realise that it is actually a fresh-water species, so if you release the pig nosed turtle into the sea, it's going to die a horrible death; it will shrivel up and die."
Yesterday, Acres signed a tenancy agreement with the Singapore Land Authority, which will give the not-for profit organisation a three-month rent-free period from November while construction is underway.
Acres needs some $1 million for the construction and initial operation of the 2-hectare facility. It will hold events next month to raise funds and awareness. Already, Admiralty Secondary School has "adopted" the rescue centre, with its students to volunteer there as part of their Community Involvement Programme.
Visit www.acres.org.sg for more information or to donate.
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