Singapore is a trading hub not just for legitimate cargo, but also for more ethically questionable cargo. In particular, Singapore is prominently featured in the trafficking of endangered animals and animal parts.

It’s exotic, it’s expensive — and therefore it attracts smugglers. Smuggling endangered animals is big business. According to Interpol, the estimated value in the commercial trade of wild animals in Asia is a staggering $20 billion. Customers range from folks wanting a more unusual pet to those more interested in the animal’s component parts for food, traditional medicine or exotic fashion.

In the new global economy, it is easier than ever to get your hands on turtles, pangolins and many other animals native to Asia through illicit means. The impact is so severe that a new term has been coined in academia called “Empty Forest Syndrome,” showing the massive gap in biodiversity in many Asian forests.

Enter the Animal Concerns and Education Society, or ACRES in Singapore. Since their inception in 2001 as a wildlife organisation they have been working hard to promote the welfare of all animals. Tan En, Director of Advocacy at the charity believes that ACRES’ success lies in its broad appeal. “We do things differently to other charities, and really punch above our weight. I believe we have also had some of the most successful public awareness campaigns. We are not necessarily doing better than other charities such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), they are just more specialised than we are.”

Referring to the recent sentencing of two Russian smugglers who were caught in July smuggling 206 turtles through Singapore, Tan says that Singapore attracts a lot of illicit business. “According to a report on trafficking last year, Singapore is one of the top 10 countries for the illegal trading of wildlife. This is for two reasons. Firstly, Singapore is a trading hub, and so a lot of people come through Singapore with these goods. For example, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore have previously seized Ivory shipments coming through the country.”

“Secondly, there is a big market here for wild animals. Not so long ago, there were many pet shops openly selling endangered animals at the front of the shop. This is where ACRES has had an impact. We have pushed it now to more back of the pet shop deals. It has not ended, but it is now very hush hush. We achieved this through a lot of undercover work and pushing the Government to come down hard on offenders.”

Tan points out that as the law currently stands, the penalty for killing or keeping wild animals or birds without a license is punishable with a S$1000 fine and forfeiture of the animal in question. “This is not enough of a deterrence,” Tan argues, “as the amount is small for a wildlife trader. We are trying to get the Government to increase the punishment, maybe even introduce a jail sentence. I can’t say what would be appropriate, but it is definitely not a strong enough punishment.”

For ACRES, an important part of their mission statement is awareness of animal rights in Singapore. “This is the first step in any campaign. The next part is action, where we ask anyone who sees or knows of trafficking to call our hotlines which are on our website. Boycotting is also important; if you know of a shop selling endangered animals don’t buy from them. If the demand goes down, then the supply will as well. This is not a fast process however, we are still in the process of raising awareness.”

Tan says that Acres has a simple agenda. “Our aim is to sway the majority. There will always be the diehards on either side of an issue, whether it be those who are very passionate about animal rights or those who don’t think it is important at all. We feel that there has been a shift in the curve towards caring more about animal rights, we are proud of that achievement.”

Animal rights advocacy is not a simple task however, and Tan explains that there are significant challenges. “The biggest is cost. We are a charity and do not get a lot of monetary support from the government. We really do rely on donations from the man in the street to help our cause.”

He goes on to add that, “In terms of our challenges to our campaigns, it is sometimes hard to reach certain people. The environment is a hot topic in Singapore, but not about animals per se. It is still quite niche in terms of public perception.”

Tan does state though that ACRES is doing well despite the obstacles. “We are making money and have expanded into working in Malaysia and Laos. We definitely punch above our weight.”

Those who wish to donate to ACRES can do so through this link: http://www.acres.org.sg/support-us/donate-now.html