STING OPERATIONS RESULT IN SEIZURE OF TIGER SKINS, HEDGEHOG IN S’PORE

SINGAPORE, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- The Singapore authority seized several
animal skins believed to be tiger skins and one live hedgehog following sting
operations by a local animal protection society around the island this month.

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) said today that
posing as buyers, its undercover officers found a hedgehog on sale in Hougang, a
whole tiger skin complete with the head, claimed to be from Sri Lanka in Choa
Chu Kang, and three tiger skins claimed to be from Thailand in Serangoon.

ACRES tipped the city-state's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) which
responded immediately and seized the items.

In a statement, ACRES said all the tiger skins and the hedgehog were being
advertised for sale online by three different sellers, including a woman.

The hedgehog was offered for sale at $150, the whole tiger skin at $400
and the other three pieces of tiger skins at $128 each.


ACRES Wildlife Crime Unit director Anbarasi Boopal said these seizures
together with earlier major seizures of alleged tiger parts in Singapore in
March this year had put a huge dent on the illegal wildlife trade.

Under the Wild Animals and Birds Act, hedgehogs are one of several exotic
animals which are prohibited by AVA to be kept or sold as pets in Singapore.

ACRES executive director Louis Ng said the illegal wildlife trade appeared
to be going online and the society would continue to monitor and take action to
wipe out the illicit trade.

He said ACRES was confident that with the community playing an active role,
they could wipe out the illicit trade before it wiped out wildlife.

-- BERNAMA