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CNA
3 days ago
- General
- CNA
Yishun, Punggol cat deaths likely caused by vehicle accidents; no evidence of deliberate cruelty: NParks
SINGAPORE: Two community cat deaths in Yishun and Punggol were likely caused by vehicle accidents, and there is no evidence to suggest either was a deliberate act of animal cruelty, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Tuesday (Jun 3). In making its conclusions, NParks took into account its investigation findings, a postmortem examination for the Yishun case and a report from the veterinary clinic in the Punggol case. It also considered the initial locations where both cats were found, said Ms Jessica Kwok, NParks' group director of enforcement and investigation. She also gave updates on two other cats that were found dead in the past week – a second cat in Yishun and another in Tampines. FIRST CAT IN YISHUN A cat was found dead at Yishun Street 51 and NParks was alerted to a case of suspected animal abuse by the police on May 9. During its investigations, NParks interviewed the person who reported the case, located potential witnesses and reviewed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the area. "Through our investigation, we confirmed that the cat carcass was initially found on the road by a passer-by, who moved it to a nearby void deck," said Ms Kwok. A postmortem examination was carried out on the cat carcass by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS). The overall findings were "compatible" with external blunt force trauma, which resulted in injuries, such as fractures of the bones of the pelvis and sternum. There were also multiple areas of bleeding, and its right eye had fallen partially out of place. There was no evidence of penetrating or sharp force injuries or wounds, said Ms Kwok. "When the injuries are considered as a whole, a vehicular impact is the most likely cause of the blunt force traumatic injuries." CAT FOUND DEAD IN PUNGGOL In its statement on Wednesday, NParks also gave further updates on its investigation into the feline that was found injured at the loading and unloading bay near Block 326B Sumang Walk in Punggol. NParks retrieved the injured cat after being notified on the morning of May 12 and sent it to a private veterinary clinic. After the cat's microchip was traced, NParks informed the community cat's caregiver to contact the clinic. At this point, the case was classified as animal rescue as there was no evidence at the initial stages that the cat was abused, NParks' director for enforcement and investigation Joshua Teoh told reporters on Tuesday. He added that an animal welfare group representative had decided to put down the cat on welfare grounds, and it was not sent for a postmortem examination. The cat's body was subsequently collected by another community cat caregiver and cremated. The report from the private veterinary clinic that treated the injured cat noted the cat's condition and injuries "in detail", which included proptosis - abnormal protrusion of one or both eyes - and lesions on the head. The report included the private vet's professional assessment that the lesions and findings are "usually suggestive of blunt trauma" to the head, with a "possible common cause" being a road traffic accident, said Ms Kwok. NParks began investigating the case on May 13 after receiving feedback that the cat may have been abused. It interviewed the person who first found the injured cat and other potential witnesses. Officers also visited the scene and retrieved CCTV footage from multiple cameras in the area, but the CCTV cameras did not capture any footage of how the cat sustained its injuries. "Based on the investigation findings, including taking into account the initial location where the cat was found, NParks assessed that it is likely that the cat had sustained its injuries due to a vehicular accident, and there was no evidence to suggest a deliberate act of animal cruelty," said Ms Kwok. She added: "NParks understands the concerns on cases of alleged animal cruelty, and we would like to assure the public that we take all feedback received from the public on alleged animal cruelty seriously and will investigate them thoroughly, including looking at any new evidence presented." TWO MORE CASES Ms Kwok also gave updates on two other cats that were found dead in the past week, including a second one at Yishun Street 51 with its legs splayed. She said there were no visible external injuries found, based on the preliminary physical examination, and a postmortem examination is being carried out. In another incident, a feline was found dead at a void deck at Tampines Street 81 on May 24. NParks established that Traffic Police officers had attended to a traffic incident involving a car and a community cat earlier that day. "The (Traffic Police) officers moved the cat's body to the void deck as it was likely to pose a safety hazard to other road users and to prevent other vehicles from running over the cat's body," said Ms Kwok. A member of the public later came across the cat's body and reported the case to NParks. No further action will be taken as the car driver had reported the accident to the police within 24 hours. ABUSE CASES REACH 12-YEAR HIGH Speaking to reporters, Mr Teoh said that NParks has seen a "fairly consistent trend" in cases designated as animal abuse or cruelty over the years. Of these, no more than 6 per cent had evidence pointing to animal cruelty. Among the rest, the majority were public disputes or disamenities caused by pet or community animals, and some of these may not be related to cruelty, Mr Teoh added. Some animals may have underlying conditions and could have died due to natural causes. In 2024, the number of cases involving animal cruelty and welfare in Singapore rose to a 12-year high of 961, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). A total of 2,190 animals were involved in the cases, with cats forming the majority (1,330). The Animals and Birds Act is currently being reviewed to increase penalties – such as fines, jail terms an disqualification orders – to ensure "effective deterrence" against animal welfare offences.
CNA
23-05-2025
- CNA
CCTVs, knocking on doors: What else will it take to nab community cat abusers?
In May 2023, the lifeless and bloodied body of a young tuxedo tabby cat named Tuxy was found at the open-air carpark next to a block of flats in Hougang. The gruesome find shocked volunteer feeders in the area who immediately sprung into action to gather information to catch the abuser. 'We went door-to-door personally to visit each unit and requested video footage from those with a camera facing the corridors,' said Ms Jasmine Tan, 30, a cat feeder in the area. Out of the footage they received was one video showing what is believed to be Tuxy thrown from heights. The group sent this in to the National Parks Board (NParks) but two years on have not heard back if the abuser was nabbed. CNA TODAY has reached out to NParks to ask about the status of this case. While waiting for closure from this case, more instances of abuse involving community cats have surfaced. Just earlier this month, in an act described as "appalling cruelty" by Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, a community cat in Yishun called King Kong was found with severe injuries including its eyes gouged out and organs split. Within days another cat called Shere Khan was found at a car park in Punggol with severe injuries and both eye globes protruded significantly from their sockets. It had to be subsequently euthanised. While the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), which is the body under NParks which investigates such cases, said that Shere Khan's injuries were "likely" due to a vehicular accident, the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) said it stands by its statement that the "nature of his injuries points strongly to deliberate abuse" and it was 'one of the most brutal cases' it has encountered. 'Based on the information available to us, we do not believe this was a road traffic accident. We are concerned that the possibility of a non-accidental injury cannot be ruled out,' said the group's co-founder Nina Astolfi. At the same time, some community cat abuses are being dealt with by the judicial system. On Friday, a 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to performing an indecent act on a cat after being caught on a neighbour's closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera. In February, a man was sentenced to 14 months' jail for abusing five cats in Ang Mo Kio, killing two of them by throwing them off public housing blocks between 2019 and 2021. The prosecution is appealing for a higher sentence. That same month, another man was charged in court for allegedly killing a cat and abusing four others in Toa Payoh, in September and October 2024. But such instances are cold comfort for animal lovers, as the number of abusers brought before the court of law – though increased through the years – is miniscule compared to hundreds of cats that die from alleged abuse. NParks investigated an average of about 1,200 cases of alleged animal cruelty and welfare cases annually from 2017 to 2020, according to the Ministry of National Development in September 2021. From 2017 to 2021, 40 persons have been sentenced in court and fined, and 23 persons have been sentenced in court and jailed. In 2024, NParks received around 60 cases of alleged animal cruelty involving community cats specifically, it told CNA TODAY on Friday. Of these cases, evidence of animal cruelty were found for five of these cases upon investigation. "In those cases, which were substantiated with evidence, enforcement action was taken against the offender, such as issuing a warning letter or a composition fine. For cases that were egregious in nature, offenders were prosecuted in court," NParks said. This has led some volunteers to feel despondent, with some telling CNA TODAY that they no longer bother to report the death of community cats they encounter to authorities because more often than not it does not lead to the abuser being caught. 'We have been through so many cases ... Each time an exceedingly cruel case happens there is some media attention and then it proceeds to die down until the next abhorrent case happens,' said Ms Tan, Tuxy's feeder.
LeMonde
23-05-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
In Italy, the populist stunts of a Neapolitan TikTok star
Letter from Rome Her face, heavily made up and adorned with sparkling piercings, has become emblematic of a new brand of southern populism. Rita De Crescenzo, 45, a Neapolitan TikTok creator with 1.8 million followers, has become known for her headline-grabbing acts while declaring herself ready to enter politics. Her latest move was a video published on May 16 in which she targeted Naples MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli. In a mix of Italian and hard-to-understand Neapolitan dialect, she threatened to "destroy" him. "You took the bread from my mouth? You came after me? Now, I'm going to blow everything up. I've unleashed myself, and Naples will rise up behind me. With one of my videos, something will happen that you cannot even imagine," threatened De Crescenzo, addressing the progressive lawmaker, a member of the Greens and Left Alliance (AVS). A self-appointed defender of the working-class identity of the impoverished southern Italian city, the influencer reproached the MP for meddling in family affairs – often, as is common in the Mezzogiorno, surrounded by suspicions of fraud, in a region marked by the grip of organized crime.
New Paper
20-05-2025
- Business
- New Paper
No poultry or poultry products S'pore imports from Brazil farm hit by bird flu outbreak
Singapore does not import poultry or poultry products from the farm hit by the highly contagious bird flu in Brazil. Responding to queries, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) in a joint statement on May 19 said there are arrangements in place with Brazil in the event of a bird flu outbreak. "Under such arrangements, in response to food safety concerns, imports from affected establishments and those within a buffer zone may be suspended while those imports from unaffected areas outside the buffer zone can continue," it added. The two agencies also work with the industry to accredit new sources of poultry that meet Singapore's food safety requirements, the statement said. It added: "While our overall supply of poultry is currently stable, we can expect supply fluctuations from time to time due to disease outbreaks and supply disruptions. "For instance, several countries are affected by bird flu outbreaks which affected their poultry production." Diversifying the sources of food supply remains a key food security strategy for Singapore, the two agencies said. "Diversification reduces the impact of disruption from any single source as our importers can turn to alternative sources quickly to stabilise our food supply," the statement said. Following reports of a bird flu outbreak on a commercial farm in Brazil - the world's biggest chicken exporter - more countries have announced trade bans to prevent a spread across borders. On May 19, Japan became the latest country to say that it had suspended some imports of poultry from parts of Brazil, joining a growing list that includes Brazil's top chicken buyer China and the European Union. This occurred just days after the South American nation on May 16 reported its first case of the highly contagious bird flu virus on a commercial farm. Singapore relies heavily on imported food, and Brazil is one of its top sources of chicken. How dependent are we on Brazil for chicken? Brazil ranked as Singapore's top supplier of chicken from 2019 to 2021, accounting for nearly half of the Republic's chicken imports during those years, according to annual SFA food statistics. AVS and SFA said while Brazil is "one of our top sources of poultry", Singapore's overall supply is "well-diversified" with 30 accredited sources, including countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Denmark and Malaysia. "If there are supply disruptions from any source, we will work with the industry to increase chilled and frozen chicken supply from other sources if necessary," the agencies said. How serious is the strain of bird flu in Brazil? The strain of bird flu in Brazil has been identified as a highly pathogenic avian influenza. This refers to a variant that is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in a few days, according to the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's website. Bird flu spreads mainly among birds, but it can also affect humans. Infection occurs through contact with the saliva, nasal secretions and faeces of infected birds, or surfaces that are contaminated with the virus. There is no vaccine for cases of bird flu in humans, but vaccines are available for birds. Brazil first confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu among wild birds in May 2023, but had not registered a case on a commercial farm until May 16 in the city of Montenegro in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. Since the case was detected, the local authorities and farmers have stepped up efforts to trace and eradicate the virus. As at May 17, 450 tonnes of eggs from Rio Grande do Sul have been destroyed, and veterinary officials are isolating the area of the outbreak in Montenegro and scanning for more cases in an initial 10km radius. State officials on May 16 said the outbreak had already led to the deaths of 17,000 farm chickens, either from the disease or because of cautionary culling. How could the bird flu affect Singapore's chicken supply? The heavy reliance on food imports makes Singapore vulnerable to global food supply disruptions from disease outbreak and policy decisions by foreign governments, SFA said in its latest food statistics report in May 2024. When outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza were detected previously, Singapore had typically responded with targeted poultry import restrictions. In their statement, AVS and SFA said that, as part of measures for keeping bird flu out, Singapore suspends imports from regions affected by bird flu or only allows products that have been heat treated to inactivate the virus. For instance, when cases of the virus were found in four prefectures in Japan in 2023, the Republic suspended the import of raw poultry and poultry products from those areas. Disruptions to the chicken supply can lead to higher prices. When Malaysia announced that it would stop exporting chickens in 2022 to ease a domestic supply shortage, the effects were keenly felt across the Causeway in Singapore. Chicken sellers faced higher supply costs, forcing some dependent on Malaysian livestock to halt operations because of the ban. As the first month of the ban ended, SFA approved Indonesia as a new source of frozen, chilled and processed chicken meat.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
No poultry or poultry products imported from Brazil farm hit by bird flu outbreak, say S'pore authorities
SINGAPORE – Singapore does not import poultry or poultry products from the farm hit by the highly contagious bird flu in Brazil. Responding to queries, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) in a joint statement on May 19 said there are arrangements in place with Brazil in the event of a bird flu outbreak. 'Under such arrangements, in response to food safety concerns, imports from affected establishments and those within a buffer zone may be suspended while those imports from unaffected areas outside the buffer zone can continue,' it added. The two agencies also work with the industry to accredit new sources of poultry that meet Singapore's food safety requirements, the statement said. It added: 'While our overall supply of poultry is currently stable, we can expect supply fluctuations from time to time due to disease outbreaks and supply disruptions. 'For instance, several countries are affected by bird flu outbreaks which affected their poultry production.' Diversifying the sources of food supply remains a key food security strategy for Singapore, the two agencies said. 'Diversification reduces the impact of disruption from any single source as our importers can turn to alternative sources quickly to stabilise our food supply,' the statement said. Following reports of a bird flu outbreak on a commercial farm in Brazil – the world's biggest chicken exporter – more countries have announced trade bans to prevent a spread across borders. On May 19, Japan became the latest country to say that it had suspended some imports of poultry from parts of Brazil, joining a growing list that includes Brazil's top chicken buyer China and the European Union. This occurred just days after the South American nation on May 16 reported its first case of the highly contagious bird flu virus on a commercial farm. Singapore relies heavily on imported food, and Brazil is one of its top sources of chicken. Brazil ranked as Singapore's top supplier of chicken from 2019 to 2021, accounting for nearly half of the Republic's chicken imports during those years, according to annual SFA food statistics. AVS and SFA said while Brazil is 'one of our top sources of poultry', Singapore's overall supply is 'well-diversified' with 30 accredited sources, including countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Denmark and Malaysia. 'If there are supply disruptions from any source, we will work with the industry to increase chilled and frozen chicken supply from other sources if necessary,' the agencies said. The strain of bird flu in Brazil has been identified as a highly pathogenic avian influenza. This refers to a variant that is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in a few days, according to the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's website. Bird flu spreads mainly among birds, but it can also affect humans. Infection occurs through contact with the saliva, nasal secretions and faeces of infected birds, or surfaces that are contaminated with the virus. There is no vaccine for cases of bird flu in humans, but vaccines are available for birds. Brazil first confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu among wild birds in May 2023, but had not registered a case on a commercial farm until May 16 in the city of Montenegro in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. Since the case was detected, the local authorities and farmers have stepped up efforts to trace and eradicate the virus. As at May 17, 450 tonnes of eggs from Rio Grande do Sul have been destroyed, and veterinary officials are isolating the area of the outbreak in Montenegro and scanning for more cases in an initial 10km radius. State officials on May 16 said the outbreak had already led to the deaths of 17,000 farm chickens, either from the disease or because of cautionary culling. The heavy reliance on food imports makes Singapore vulnerable to global food supply disruptions from disease outbreak and policy decisions by foreign governments, SFA said in its latest food statistics report in May 2024. When outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza were detected previously, Singapore had typically responded with targeted poultry import restrictions. In their statement, AVS and SFA said that, as part of measures for keeping bird flu out, Singapore suspends imports from regions affected by bird flu or only allows products that have been heat treated to inactivate the virus. For instance, when cases of the virus were found in four prefectures in Japan in 2023, the Republic suspended the import of raw poultry and poultry products from those areas. Disruptions to the chicken supply can lead to higher prices. When Malaysia announced that it would stop exporting chickens in 2022 to ease a domestic supply shortage, the effects were keenly felt across the Causeway in Singapore. Chicken sellers faced higher supply costs, forcing some dependent on Malaysian livestock to halt operations because of the ban. As the first month of the ban ended, SFA approved Indonesia as a new source of frozen, chilled and processed chicken meat. Ang Qing is a correspondent covering local and international breaking news at The Straits Times, with a focus on the environment, crime, technology and social issues. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
