Sunda Pangolin is the world’s most trafficked animal. (Photo credit: Max Khoo)

World Pangolin Day falls on 23 February this year, commemorating the pangolin or spiny anteater, which is sadly also known as the world’s most trafficked animal – the critically endangered species is poached internationally for its meat and scales. In 2019 alone, Singapore authorities seized a combined record of 37.5 tonnes of pangolin scales and 8.8 tonnes of raw elephant ivory. This was estimated to have come from close to 40,000 pangolins and nearly 300 African Elephants, with an estimated total worth of more than $170 million!

Seizure of pangolin scales illegally smuggled through Singapore

That is just an example of the insidious nature of the illegal wildlife trade – a trade that runs into billions of dollars, kills thousands of animals, and spans the globe. And it does not stop there.

 

Threat to Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Illegal wildlife trade is a grave threat to the plant’s biodiversity and ecosystems. It drives overexploitation of the natural environment, destroys habitats, and threatens the survival of many endangered species globally.

Its consequences are far-reaching for many industries, economies, and communities. For instance, the World Economic Forum discovered that more than half the world’s Gross Domestic Product is dependent on nature. This means that a loss of biodiversity can result in a loss of livelihoods and destabilise economies reliant on nature.

On top of that, wildlife trafficking and exploitation pose serious health risks, as these involve bypassing a country’s biosecurity and sanitary controls. This then increases the likelihood of zoonotic spillovers, that is, the transmission of diseases between animals and humans, which could in turn spark global disease outbreaks. Most major pandemics that impact the world were believed to be transmitted by wildlife and could be linked back to wildlife markets, which fuel the illegal wildlife trade.

With the illegal wildlife trade being of global concern, countries across the world, including Singapore, are making it a priority to stamp it out.

 

How Singapore Combats Illegal Wildlife Trade
Singapore has a zero-tolerance stance on the illegal trade of endangered wildlife species and their parts and derivatives. As the lead agency for biodiversity conservation and wildlife management, NParks is committed to the global fight against the illegal wildlife trade and adopts a multi-pronged approach to regulate and enforce against such trade. This approach is anchored by a robust legal and effective enforcement framework across the Government.

For example, a nationwide ban on the domestic trade in elephant ivory came into effect on 1 September 2021. This means that the sale of elephant ivory and ivory products, as well as public displays of these items for the purpose of sale, is prohibited in Singapore.

Smuggled ivory tusks that are seized will be destroyed to prevent them from re-entering the market.

Raid and sting operations are also conducted regularly to crack down on illegal wildlife trade activities. In April last year, for instance, NParks staff conducted an island-wide raid of 13 individuals who were suspected of selling wildlife species online. More than 90 wildlife specimens were seized, including exotic species such as Sugar Gliders, Bearded Dragons, snakes, and tarantulas.

On top of that, NParks works with the Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs to screen and scan shipments and individuals passing through the island’s checkpoints. This is based on a robust risk assessment framework, where risk profiles and risk indicators are used to target illegal wildlife trade.

 

Amending the Endangered Species Act
Internationally, endangered wildlife species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international agreement that involves regulating the international trade of wild animals and plants to ensure that such species are not threatened to extinction. Singapore has been a Party to CITES since November 1986, and NParks is the authority that implements and enforces CITES regulations.

Most recently, NParks is working on reviewing the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, the principal legislation that supports the implementation and enforcement of CITES. As part of the review, the Ministry of National Development and NParks consulted agencies, key stakeholders, and the public to formulate several proposed amendments to the Act. These include stiffer penalties for illegal trade in species protected under CITES and stronger enforcement powers for NParks.

For example, the maximum fine and imprisonment for illegal trade in Appendix I species is doubled from $50,000 per species and two years in prison to $100,000 per species and four years in prison. These will better ensure that penalties are proportionate to the offence and will further deter illegal trade of wildlife, both domestically and internationally.

New safeguards are also introduced to protect the identity of informers, to encourage more individuals to come forward and provide information on illegal wildlife trade activities. This would then enhance NParks’ investigations.

Lastly, the proposed amendments will make the Act clearer for stakeholders, detailing what is allowed or not allowed under the Act, particularly for animal hybrids of CITES Appendix I and II species; naturally excreted animal by-products, such as faeces and urines; and documentation required when bringing CITES species in or through Singapore. This will also align the Act more closely with CITES Resolutions, which outline recommendations for the implementation of CITES. Click here to read more about the amendments to the act.

 

Singapore’s Efforts Being Recognised
The United Nations’ Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards (AEEA) recognise outstanding achievements by public organisations and individuals in Asia to combat transboundary environmental crime, highlight the importance of international cooperation, as well as strong commitment and collective effort among governments and stakeholders, in fighting illegal wildlife trade.

NParks – together with the ICA, Singapore Customs and Anti-Smuggling Bureau of General Administration of China Customs – received an AEEA in the Collaboration category in November 2021. The award was for a joint operation to seize a 7.8 kg elephant ivory ornament that was due for delivery to Singapore from France through China. This was thanks to a tip-off from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China.

A controlled delivery operation was then conducted by NParks to deliver the parcel to the recipient in Singapore to identify the buyer. The buyer and seller of the ornament are now assisting with investigations. DNA analysis by the NParks Centre for Wildlife Forensics identified the specimen to be from a CITES Appendix I elephant species, the African Bush Elephant.

Dr Anna Wong, Director of Wildlife Trade at NParks, also won an award at the AEEA in the Gender Leadership and Women Empowerment category. This was for her work in combatting illegal wildlife trade, including coordinating multiple enforcement operations that led to the record seizures of pangolin scales and raw elephant ivory in 2019.

One of the dogs in the NParks K9 Unit that Dr Anna Wong oversees, being trained to detect wildlife and wildlife products in this simulation of luggage bags on a conveyer belt

Doing Your Part
You too can play a key role in fighting illegal wildlife trade by ensuring your purchases do not contain animal parts of endangered species, and not contributing to the demand for the illegal trade of wildlife.

If you spot any occurrences of illegal wildlife trade, please contact NParks at 1800-476-1600. Information shared will be kept strictly confidential.

As Singapore transforms into a City in Nature as a key pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 (a national movement to advance sustainable development), efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade will also help to boost Singapore’s capabilities in conserving native biodiversity in our nature reserves and parks. This will also ensure Singapore remains a distinctive global city that is highly liveable and sustainable.

 

Text by Ry-Anne Lim