Undercover Investigations into the Illegal Reptile Trade in Singapore, 2005

In 2005, ACRES embarked on an undercover investigation into the illegal exotic pet trade in Singapore. This followed on from several sightings of prohibited species being openly on sale in pet shops throughout Singapore. We decided to investigate further the extent of this illegal trade and establish which species were being sold illegally and by which shops.

We surveyed a total of 100 randomly-selected pet shops throughout Singapore, recording any instances of illegal animal trading. The results were then passed to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

Results of investigation

The results of the survey were startling, with an alarmingly high number of illegal animals found being traded, most quite openly.

One in five pet shops (20%) were found to be selling prohibited animals, in contravention of local laws. In total, 111 animals were recorded on sale illegally, mostly of species which face a high risk of extinction in the wild according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In many cases, the prohibited animals were on sale openly. However, in some cases the animals were hidden away, and shop keepers were caught on film admitting that selling these animals was illegal.

A total of five species of non-native animals were found being illegally sold, in contravention of local laws and international agreement. These were the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), the Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Ocadia sinensis), the pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta), the Australian snake-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis) and the Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica).

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle is a species not before encountered by ACRES being traded in Singapore. This species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species and faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild but was, however, found openly on sale in many of the shops. The Chinese soft shelled turtle and the pig-nosed turtle similarly face a high risk of extinction in the wild.

The law in Singapore

Most wild animals are prohibited as pets in Singapore. The list of prohibited species includes all reptiles (except the red-eared slider and the Malayan box turtle.) The sale or even display of these prohibited animals is an offence under Singapore law.

Pet shops in possession of prohibited species contravene the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, the Wild Animals and Bird Act and the Birds and Animals Act.

Outcome of investigation

The results of the investigation, including a list of all the shops selling illegal animals and details of how many animals and of what species were being sold at each shop, were presented to the AVA, together with all the undercover footage obtained.

On the 27th of June 2005, officers from the AVA and the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Team raided three pet shops that had been found selling illegal animals. A total of 47 animals were confiscated.

Some shopkeepers claimed ignorance, especially in the case of the Chinese stripe-necked turtle, which they claimed they thought was the red-eared slider (the only reptile allowed to be sold in Singapore at that time). However, this is very hard to believe as the two species look very different. Added to this, all shops were selling the two species at different prices, so they obviously knew they were different!

A press conference was held by ACRES on the 22nd of July to reveal the findings of the investigation. The story received widespread coverage in local newspapers including Today, The Straits Times and LianHe Wan Bao, and was also covered by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

The current situation

ACRES continues to keep a watch on pet shops, and we are pleased to say that we have not seen the Chinese stripe-necked turtle on sale since the investigation. Hopefully this species has been successfully prevented from entering the illegal pet trade in Singapore as a result of our investigation and subsequent action by the authorities.

Take action!

You can help us to be our eyes and ears. If you see any prohibited animals on sale illegally in pet shops, please call the ACRES Wildlife Crime Hotline on 97837782.