Latest news with #exoticPets
CNA
4 days ago
- General
- CNA
42 cases of animal smuggling at Singapore borders in 2024
SINGAPORE: Kittens, puppies and an Asian Arowana fish were among 42 animal smuggling cases detected in 2024, according to the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). In comparison, there were 35 such cases in 2023, said both agencies in a statement on Tuesday (May 27). Eight cases of animal smuggling were also caught at the borders between January and April of this year EXOTIC WILDLIFE SMUGGLING ON THE RISE A routine luggage inspection at Singapore's Changi Airport on Aug 27 last year found 16 live birds stuffed into pipes and crammed into a duffel bag without food and water. Three of the birds died. While the bulk of the cases involved pet animals like birds, kittens, puppies and fish, 18 cases involved the illegal importation of live wildlife, an increase of 80 per cent from 2023, said both NParks and ICA. More than 240 animals were also seized from over 30 premises in Singapore in the last two years, according to the two agencies. Ms Xie Ren Hui, director of wildlife trade at NParks, said the agency has detected more exotic wildlife cases, with the use of technology such as mobile X-ray scanning machines, together with partners like the ICA and Singapore Customs at the checkpoints. "We also see … a number of (these exotic species) that are not approved pets to be kept at home. And the reason why such exotics are being kept as pets could be for novelty reasons," she added. Ms Xie said that one of the reasons for an increase in demand for exotic wildlife as pets may include novelty, due to the small list of approved pets to be kept at home. She added that authorities have also caught exotic wildlife or animals transiting through Singapore, noting one case where 58 endangered Indian star tortoises en route to Indonesia from India were seized here. ILLEGAL TRANSIT OF WILDLIFE Authorities have confiscated many large shipments of illegal wildlife transiting Singapore in the past few years. In April 2019, Singapore authorities seized the largest-ever haul of pangolin scales when they were on the way from Nigeria to Vietnam. The case involved close to 13 tonnes of scales, worth more than S$52 million (US$40 million). In October 2022, authorities seized 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns, in one of the largest such hauls in Singapore. They were en route from South Africa to Laos, with a wholesale value of more than S$1.2 million. Another record was broken in July that year, when 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory were intercepted similarly on their way to Vietnam. The ivory, worth more than S$17 million, was estimated to have come from nearly 300 African elephants. Efforts to clamp down on such illegal trade of endangered wildlife have ramped up in recent years. The Endangered Species (Import and Export) (Amendment) Bill was changed in 2022 to strengthen enforcement against those who trade endangered species covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international agreement that aims to ensure wildlife species are not threatened to extinction by trade. Despite strict laws and enforcement, animal smuggling is still ongoing worldwide. WHY DOES ANIMAL SMUGGLING THRIVE Associate Professor Adrian Loo, deputy director at the National University of Singapore's Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, told CNA's Singapore Tonight programme that animal smuggling continues to thrive due to demand. He added that established transport infrastructure at transshipment ports also make it easier for smugglers to operate, and while authorities do their best to detect such activities, some slip through. When asked about regions that are especially vulnerable now, Assoc Prof Loo said that just as there are smugglers flowing into Singapore and within Southeast Asia, there are many others headed in the opposite direction. He cited cases of songbirds from Southeast Asia being smuggled into Europe. He said that social media and online marketplaces have amplified the demand for such wildlife and generated interest for new entrants into the illegal trade of these animals. He noted the ease of buying smuggled animals on social media platforms meant that consumers may or may not be aware of the legality of such pets. '(It) becomes quite easy for them to … buy it without even a single thought. And it looks so interesting, a sugar glider or hedgehog,' said Assoc Prof Loo, pointing out that education is important to help reduce illegal demand for exotic pets. 'I think people lack the awareness that if you are buying things from the wild, you are creating a demand for them to be poached from the wild. And then they'll be extinct.' EDUCATING YOUTHS TO TACKLE THE ISSUE Assoc Prof Loo said battling transnational crimes such as illegal wildlife trading also requires countries to work together. He added that it is also important to educate youths about the illegal trade. He noted that the CITES Global Youth Network (CGYN) platform, which allows youths to study and learn about the challenges facing the wildlife trade, is a step in the right direction. Singapore is hosting the inaugural five-day (CGYN) Summit, a forum for more than 70 youths from 53 countries, to combat illegal wildlife trade. Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan also emphasised the importance of international collaboration during the opening ceremony of the CGYN Summit on Tuesday. "We don't just work collaboratively within the Singapore government and our agencies, but we also work with our international partners, sharing findings that can help tackle poaching hot spots more effectively and curb illegal wildlife trade at source," said Mr Tan. Ms Steffi Tan, co-founder of CGYN, said the network provides a chance for youths worldwide to share diverse perspectives of the illegal wildlife trade and learn from each other. 'Illegal wildlife trade is an international issue, it is not one country's burden to bear alone. There is supply and there is also demand and everything else that needs to be tackled in between, like the transit countries,' she said.
Al Jazeera
21-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Tigers, jaguars and elephants flee cartel violence in Mexico
For years, exotic pets owned by cartel members – alongside former circus animals – have resided in a modest sanctuary on the outskirts of Sinaloa's capital in Mexico. However, a violent power struggle erupted last year between rival Sinaloa cartel factions, plunging the region into chaos. The Ostok Sanctuary's leaders have faced armed attacks, persistent death threats and a blockade of essential supplies critical to the survival of their 700 animals. This week, aid workers departed Culiacan, transporting the animals across the state in the hope of shielding them from the worst of the violence. Yet, fighting has become so widespread that many fear it will inevitably reach them. The outbreak of violence began eight months ago, when two rival Sinaloa Cartel factions started battling for territory, triggered by the dramatic abduction of one group's leader. He was kidnapped by a son of the infamous Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman and later handed over to US authorities by private plane. Since then, fierce clashes between heavily armed factions have become a daily reality for civilians in Culiacan – a city that, until recently, had largely been spared the worst of Mexico's violence due to the Sinaloa Cartel's firm control. Zazueta, the sanctuary's director, said the animals' departure from the city is a further sign of how deeply the conflict has permeated everyday life. During periods of intense violence, sanctuary staff could hear gunfire nearby and the noise of cars and helicopters overhead – sounds that distressed the animals. Cartel fighting regularly prevented staff from reaching the sanctuary, leaving some animals without food for days. As a result, many have begun to lose their fur, and at least two have died, according to Zazueta. Further complicating the situation, an increasing number of rescued animals are abandoned former narco pets, left in remote areas of the state. In one case, a Bengal tiger was found chained in a public square. Rumours persist in Sinaloa and other conflict-ridden regions that cartel bosses dispose of their enemies by feeding them to pet lions. The situation reached breaking point for the Ostok Sanctuary in March, when one of their two elephants, Bireki, injured her foot. Veterinarians sought a specialist in Mexico, the United States and beyond, but none were willing to travel to Culiacan. The sanctuary relocated the animals without public announcement, fearing reprisals from local authorities or the same criminal groups that forced them to flee. They hope the animals will find safety in Mazatlan after years of turmoil.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Why the ant-smuggling trade is booming – and why we should care
Four men were recently arrested and fined for attempting to smuggle more than 5,000 ants out of Kenya. Aiming to sell them as part of the exotic pet trade, these ants were being stored in individual test tubes and syringes with small amounts of cotton wool for transportation. This unusual case highlights an important yet overlooked aspect of wildlife trafficking. Wildlife trafficking is a crime against nature which occurs mainly because of consumer demand. Trafficking refers to the illegal smuggling and continued exploitation of wild animals, plants or timber. That includes, as in this case, insects. Much conservation effort, reporting, study and enforcement activity focuses on recognised species such as rhinos. Wildlife trafficking is often associated more with these charismatic species and products made from them such as elephant tusks and rhino horn. But wildlife trafficking includes a whole spectrum of illicit animal trade from poaching and smuggling to the distribution of protected and endangered species. There is also thriving illegal trade in insects. For avid collectors, trophies and the exotic pet trade a wide array of insects have been seized over the years including rhino beetles into Japan, praying mantis eggs into the US and butterflies out of Sri Lanka. Globally, insect species are declining. This is caused by an array of threats such as pollution, pesticides, climate change and urbanisation. Although the extent of the harm being caused by trafficking is unknown, this adds further pressure to species that already face extinction. Protections for insects vary. The conservation status of each ant species affects their level of protection both nationally and internationally. Ants that are on the red list – which is the largest classification of endangered species produced by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – and classed as critically endangered or endangered cannot be captured, killed or disturbed in any manner. An example is the anathema ant, which is currently listed as an endangered species. International law puts controls on wildlife that may be threatened by trade. Some ants are protected under UK law which makes it an offence to disturb or destroy the nests of species like the red wood ant. This case shows how wildlife trafficking extends to areas such as the smuggling of, and illegal trade, in ants. Some organised crime groups have moved from smuggling drugs and weapons to trafficking in plants, medicinal compounds and animals – including insects. Organised crime can include smaller and partially disorganised groups and networks. Where there is money to be made smuggling, networks will target wildlife. The scale of the insect smuggling problem is unknown. Many cases will go unreported due to the clandestine nature of the trade. As such, both law enforcement and the wider public might not know or care about this being an offence. Although there have been some insect trade seizures, law enforcement agencies are often underresourced and may view wildlife crimes as a low priority in comparison to other areas of criminality, such as drugs. Often, insects are easily concealed. For example, 37 rhino beetles were discovered at Los Angeles International airport hidden within sweet and crisp packets. Even once insects are seized, it can be difficult to identify the species to find out whether they are protected, given so many different levels of protections for species internationally. Invasive species risk Insect trafficking could introduce non-native species to new places. If they establish a breeding population and pose a threat to local ecosystems, they can become known as 'invasive species'. Invasive species can outcompete native species for food. Some destroy habitats. Others have the potential to bring new diseases to a country. Not only can invasive insects pose threats to the environment such as the ongoing issue of invasive Asian hornets within Europe, but also affect people. Hawaii spends US$10 million (£7.5 million) on invasive species control measures – US$2.4 million of that is set aside just for coconut rhinoceros beetles. Although predicting which species and when they may become invasive is a challenge, insect trafficking can cause serious consequences. Undervaluing some species protections provides avenues for traffickers, so enforcing trafficking laws for all wildlife, including insects, is crucial. Elliot Doornbos is a Senior Lecturer of Criminology at Nottingham Trent University
