What ACRES is Doing to Tackle Wildlife Crime

Undercover Investigations

Since 2001, ACRES has conducted regular undercover investigations to determine whether there is an illegal trade in certain wild animal products in Singapore and, if so, what are the levels of trade. Findings have been published in reports, which you can download by following the links below.

Results from these investigations have been passed to the authorities, and as a result there have been nationwide crackdowns on the illegal wildlife trade, with numerous traders and owners of prohibited wild animals and wildlife products have being prosecuted or receiving warning letters.

Read about our 2001 and 2006 investigations into the illegal bear parts trade here.

Read about our 2003 investigation into the illegal tiger parts trade here.

Read about our 2005 investigation into the illegal reptile trade here.

Read about our 2009/2010 investigation into the illegal tiger parts trade here.

Wildlife Crime Hotline

Wiping out the illegal wildlife trade is no small task, and ACRES urges everyone in Singapore to get involved to make this happen.

In 2004, ACRES launched the ACRES Wildlife Crime Hotline (97837782), for people to blow the whistle on anyone illegally trading in or owning prohibited wild animals or wild animal parts in Singapore.

Since its launch, calls to the Hotline have resulted in the rescue of hundreds of animals from the illegal wildlife trade, and countless wildlife traders being brought to task.

Working with the TCM industry

ACRES works with the Traditional Chinese Medicine to eliminate the use of endangered species in TCM and promote the use of herbal alternatives to medicines made from endangered animal parts. Through our joint “ACRES & STOC Endangered Species-Friendly TCM Labelling Scheme” we are encouraging the TCM traders in Singapore to keep illegal endangered species parts off their shelves.

Read more here.

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Public awareness

Only once the demand for wildlife products stops will the wildlife trade end. Even with laws in place, there will always be those who flout the law to make money from trading in wild animals and their parts illegally.

Education is therefore key to wiping out the wildlife trade. We need to make people aware of the devastating consequences for animals and the environment should they choose to buy a prohibited wildlife product or keep a wild animal as a pet.

Additionally, we have found that many people have bought wildlife products and exotic animals as pets in Singapore without even knowing that it was against the law. Educating people of the illegality of the wildlife trade is also vital to reduce the trade.

ACRES launched our Wipe Out the Wildlife Trade Before It Wipes Them Out awareness campaign in 2004, to raise public awareness on the wildlife trade through public roadshows, talks, awareness materials, media articles, PSAs, MRT advertisements etc. and the campaign continues to this day. ACRES also raises awareness on the illegal wildlife trade through our various education programmes at the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC).

Read more about the Wipe Out the Wildlife Trade Before It Wipes Them Out campaign here.

Putting a stop to poaching

ACRES responds to reports from members of the public regarding poaching of wild animals. We inform the police and the AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority) , investigate the reports ourselves and pass on all evidence to the police and the AVA for further investigation.

We also conduct regular anti-poaching patrols in the Sungei Tengah area, looking out for any signs of poaching activity.

Most importantly, we conduct training workshops to teach members of the public how to identify and report poaching activity, building up a network of individuals all over Singapore who will be on the lookout for illegal poaching and ready to report it to the relevant authorities.