Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in Singapore Has Doubled Through Telegram

Sunday, 07 July 2024

Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in Singapore Has Doubled Through Telegram

Author: Dian Kencana
January 2, 2024

Indian star tortoises were among the wildlife that faced the greatest increase in demand in Telegram groups tracked. Photo: The Straits Times

SEAToday.com, Singapore-The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society has reported the illegal wildlife market in Singapore flourished on Telegram over the past three years. The number of banned wild animals found for sale on the messaging platform reach almost doubled from 333 in 2021 to 660 in 2023.

Among the wildlife being illegally traded were Indian star tortoises, leopard tortoises, and scorpions, which were some of the animals that saw the greatest increase in demand among telegram groups. Across the world commercial sales of tortoises have been banned but they continue to be sought after as pets.

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) alerted the authorities about the issue in 2021 and was told that the authorities were monitoring and taking action against these groups.

Acres also added that some sellers were aware that the authorities were monitoring these groups, yet known offenders continued to participate by sharing information on raids.