NEWS

ACRES IN THE NEWS
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Today
14 November 2005

Whistle on wildlife

One in five pet shops here is guilty of trading in endangered wildlife.

And the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) is concerned enough about the rise in the illegal trade that it is launching an “all-out attack”.

Starting last month and until January, the society is blitzing schools, shopping malls, trains and the radio airwaves with an intensive awareness campaign.

Since the Acres Wildlife Rescue Team was set up last, more than 140 animals, including monkeys, snakes and scorpions, have been confiscated. In June and July, undercover operations found 111 endangered animals being traded in pet shops.

The campaign aims to tell consumers which animals are prohibited as pets. Said Acres executive director Louis Ng: “We are urging Singaporeans not to buy exotic animals as pets and to also blow the whistle on anyone who buys or trades in these prohibited animals.”

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