SINGAPORE: With reports a local botanical park is to step up efforts to tackle stray dogs that have “invaded” the area, Singapore's animal rights community is looking to ensure the law is followed on not harming animals during the process. Groups in the island country have already been implementing a surveillance strategy that sees activists monitor the actions of officials and local business. Anbarasi Boopal, director, ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre, said: “As a nature reserve, the animals inside will have better protection than other areas like Lim Chu Kang, where there is not much movement (from the) public … Then the poachers would be a bit more bold in setting up traps and going unnoticed.” She told Channel News Asia that nature and animal welfare groups “are concerned that the wild boar sightings would pique the interests of poachers.” Wild boars and small ornamental birds such as spotted doves, oriental white eye and red-whiskered bulbul are among some of the most common wildlife poached. Now with dogs on the prowl in the city, worries are rising that the animals could face death if oversight is not given. “The animals are most likely malnourished, sad and have no where else to go, so they should be treated as the victims they are," said Singapore resident and animal rights campaigner Ingrid Turner. “I hope and pray that the park will be just and humane in helping to give these dogs a new home and not just kick them out or worse." The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) received notice of 53 illegal poaching incidents from 2010 through June this year. Thirteen occurred this year alone, including one involving wild boars. According to the National Parks Board, on the average, they would find about one trap per month in the forested areas at Lower Peirce Reservoir. These traps will then be dismantled and removed. Ricky Yeo, founder of Action for Singapore Dogs, said: “These traps are actually very lethal. They may consist of thin steel wires, spring-loaded traps, and sometimes the stray dogs chance upon them. We had to rescue about six to seven over the past two years with very grievous injuries.” Under the Wild Animals and Birds Act, it is a criminal offense to trap, keep or kill wild animals and birds without a licence from AVA. The offense carries a maximum penalty of S$1,000 and forfeiture of the birds or wild animals. The Gardens by the Bay include two enormous conservatories, artificial waterfalls and 18 man-made “supertrees" up to 50 meters high, in a lush tropical setting, AsiaOne.com reported of the new park. For the park's credit, they have not yet said what course of action they would take to tackle the dog “problem," but did say they were working on a solution to remove the animals from the facility. “Public safety is our top priority," a spokesman for the park said, confirming that operations to round up the strays had been stepped up following a dog attack on Monday.
