Undercover Investigation into the illegal Trade in Tiger Parts in Singapore, 2009-2010

ACRES undercover investigation results in biggest seizure of alleged tiger parts in Singapore to date, bringing us one step closer to wiping out the illegal trade in tiger parts in Singapore.

Following the latest ACRES undercover investigation into the illegal tiger parts trade and subsequent action by the authorities, the illegal trade in tiger parts here in Singapore could soon be a thing of the past.

From December 2009 to February 2010, undercover investigators from ACRES, posing as buyers, found shockingly large numbers of alleged tiger parts illegally on sale in Singapore, in jewellery shops and antique shops.

A total of 59 shops out of the 134 shops visited offered alleged tiger parts for sale, including approximately 159 alleged tiger claws, 303 alleged tiger teeth and 38 pieces of alleged tiger skin.

The investigation results and video footage obtained were passed to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), who then investigated 161 shops, including the 134 surveyed in the ACRES investigations, and seized a total of 320 pieces of alleged tiger parts from 30 shops. This was the biggest seizure of alleged tiger parts in Singapore to date.

The AVA fined 26 of the shops sums of between S$500 and S$3000. We are delighted that the swift action by the AVA has resulted in bringing those involved in the illegal trading of alleged tiger parts to task.

We are confident that, with the awareness created by the media coverage of the ACRES investigation and with the support of the public in reporting any instances of alleged tiger parts on sale, together we can end the trade in tiger parts in Singapore. ACRES will continue to raise awareness among the public about the illegal wildlife trade, and how they can help to wipe it out. If anyone sees alleged tiger parts on sale, they can call the ACRES Wildlife Crime Hotline on 97837782.

“As long as there is demand, there will be supply. Legislation alone is insufficient to bring a complete halt to the illegal trading of endangered species and their parts. We must do more public education and awareness so demands for them can be curbed and supply will then terminate” said Dr. Lim Wee Kiak, Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC.

Download the full ACRES report “An Investigation into the Illegal Trade in Tiger Parts in Singapore (2010)” here.

Tigers and the illegal tiger parts trade

Tigers are critically endangered. Around a century ago, more than 100,000 tigers roamed the world’s jungles and forests. Today, less than 3,200 remain in the wild. Three subspecies of tiger have become extinct within the last 50 years and, despite the inclusion of Asian big cat species in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), the illegal trade in specimens of nearly all these species has escalated and further threatens their long-term survival in the wild.

All commercial tiger trade has been banned since 1987 by CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which Singapore is a party to.

In Singapore, under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA), it is an offence to import, export and re-export any CITES species without a permit from AVA. The possession, sale, offering or exposing or advertising for sale or displaying to the public of any illegally imported CITES specimen is also an offence. The penalties, on conviction, are a fine of $50,000 (per species), not exceeding an aggregate of $500,000 and/or 2 years imprisonment.

Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) (Prohibition of Sale) Notification, the domestic sale of tiger specimens is prohibited. Any person who sells, offers or exposes for sale or displays to the public any tiger parts and products commits an offence. The offender shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 for each species (but not to exceed in the aggregate $100,000) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to both.

It is important to note that anyone who advertises for sale any tiger parts contravenes the above Act, even if the products turn out to be not authentic. By making a claim that the product is from tigers, the dealer is potentially driving up the demand for tiger parts, which directly contravenes the spirit of CITES and the local legislation meant to enforce CITES.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF), Singapore has previously been recognised as playing a role in the trade of tiger products from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, for both domestic trade and international re-exports. Indeed, previous investigations by ACRES in 2003 and from 2008-2009 found alleged tiger parts on sale in Traditional Chinese Medicine stores and other locations in Singapore.