The National Parks Board (NParks) has seized 101 illegally kept wild animals from six homes across Singapore, with 13 found dead and another euthanised because of its poor condition.
The simultaneous raids were carried out on Monday, 14 September, at the residences of six people suspected of illegally possessing or selling wildlife. Some had advertised the animals for sale or posted about them online, according to NParks. Investigations are ongoing, and the agency has not said whether the six cases are linked.
The operation was NParks’ largest single seizure of illegally kept wildlife since 2021, when about 120 animals were seized.
Animals Included Pythons, Axolotls and Tarantulas
The 101 specimens were all non-native wildlife that cannot legally be kept or sold as pets in Singapore.
They included sugar gliders, newts, lizards, pythons, tarantulas and turtles. Several are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, including armadillo girdled lizards, axolotls, ball pythons, pig-nosed turtles and rosy boas.
Singapore’s Animal and Veterinary Service lists sugar gliders, all snakes, all lizards, all salamanders including axolotls, tarantulas and scorpions among animals that are not approved as pets here.
13 Animals Were Already Dead
NParks said 13 animals were found dead at the residences. Their deaths may have been caused by unsuitable living conditions, including cramped spaces, insufficient ventilation and inadequate access to food and water.
Some of the surviving animals were also in poor health.
One leopard gecko had a ruptured and infected eye and was unable to fully shed its skin. NParks said its condition indicated that it had likely been kept under poor conditions for a prolonged period.
The gecko was euthanised on animal welfare grounds. Other leopard geckos and axolotls were found lethargic and in poor physical condition.
87 Remaining Animals Now Under NParks’ Care
The other 87 animals are being cared for at NParks’ Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation.
They will be quarantined because their origins are unknown and they could carry diseases that can spread to other animals or humans. The quarantine can last between one and six months.
After that, NParks will assess whether the animals can be returned to their native countries or transferred to establishments such as zoos. Euthanasia may be considered as a last resort where necessary for animal welfare.
Under the Wildlife Act, illegally selling or exporting wildlife can result in a fine of up to S$50,000, up to two years’ jail, or both. Illegal importation of wildlife can carry a fine of up to S$10,000, up to one year’s jail, or both. Separate rules apply to species protected under CITES.
