PLEASE DO NOT RELEASE RED-EARED SLIDERS!

Recently, we received a call for an injured Turtle at a pond in Punggol. To our shock, we rescued a Red-eared Terrapin/Slider (right) with his/her whole face bitten off by another Turtle in the pond. The poor Turtle had to be euthanised to end the suffering. We received another call the same weekend for another injured Turtle from the same location. It was heart-breaking to receive another similarly injured Red-eared Slider (left), who faced a similar fate.

Even though Red-eared Sliders are legally sold and allowed to be kept as pets in Singapore, they are wild animals with diverse needs in terms of space, sunlight and more. Very often, these animals end up being abandoned to fend for themselves in unfamiliar environments, and may end up getting run over on the roads or stranded in small drains and at times attacked by other animals.

When the demand stops, the trade will too! Please say no to buying/keeping these turtles as pets. If you already have a Red-eared Slider and are unable to provide for him/her – please do not release or abandon him/her. Instead, it is your responsibility to find the Terrapin a suitable home. You can enquire with landed properties with contained outdoor ponds for a possible re-homing solution!

Source: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) Facebook

A fairly large Chinese Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus sp.) has been photographed in the same pond, and might possibly be the culprit, biting and attacking the Red-eared Sliders due to hunger and overcrowding in this pond.

Philippines: Serpent Eagle rescued in Zamboanga City

By RJ Rosalado, 25th August 2015;

A Philippine Serpent Eagle (Spilornis holospilus) was rescued by residents in Barangay Ayala, Zamboanga City on Sunday morning.

The Eagle was found by residents near the vicinity of Zamboanga City Police Station 9. It appeared weak and could hardly spread its wings.

Residents sought the assistance of the policemen, who then called the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Ben Acana, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the Serpent Eagle is about 2 to 3 months old. He suspects the Eagle was domesticated by a local resident near the area where it was found.

Acana said based on their initial observations, the Serpent Eagle found it difficult to adjust to the wild.

The Serpent Eagle was brought to the DENR’s wildlife rescue center for observation.

The Eagle will be released in the wild as soon as its condition permits.

Based on Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, killing, catching and transporting any wildlife animals are prohibited and punishable.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Philippines: Serpent Eagle rescued in Zamboanga City

Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
Tampines Quarry, 20th July 2014

These skeletal remains of a Pig-nosed Turtle most likely belonged to an illegal pet that was subsequently abandoned in the lake at the quarry.

This find has been documented in the Singapore Biodiversity Records: Skeletal remains of a Pig-nosed Turtle in Tampines Quarry.

• Singapore Biodiversity Records: Skeletal remains of a Pig-nosed Turtle in Tampines Quarry
• The ecology of the non-native Red-eared Sliders and their potential impacts on the native fauna of Singapore
• Assessing The Trade In Pig-Nosed Turtles Carettochelys insculpta in Papua, Indonesia
• Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group
• Carettochelys.com
• The Lord Geekington: The Pig-nosed Turtle
• Turtles of the World
• Turtles of the World, 7th Edition: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution with Maps, and Conservation Status
• Reptilia
• The Reptile Database
• Animal Diversity Web
• ARKive
• IUCN Red List

Two days ago (13 July 2015) at about 7.40am, a pink carrier was spotted by our officer at a walkway on Bukit Batok Road leading towards the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), just after the Traffic Police speed camera. Our investigating team arrived at the scene to find the carrier empty, but a dead animal was spotted on the left lane of the road, most possibly run over multiple times by moving vehicles. Tufts of white fur and excrement were also found in the pink carrier.

The dead animal was later verified by our vet to be a Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and its fur colour matched that of the tufts seen in the carrier.

A month ago, we were similarly alerted to five allegedly abandoned Rabbits found in a blue carrier. This is the second incident of Rabbits found abandoned at the same location.

We appeal to all pet owners to be responsible pet owners. Never abandon your pet if you can no longer keep it.

Domestic Rabbits will not be able to survive once left in forested areas to fend for themselves.

The SPCA urges anyone with further leads on this incident, to call its 24-hour hotline at 62875355 (ext. 9), or e-mail inspector@spca.org.sg. (Information provided will be treated in strict confidence).

Under the revised Animals and Birds Act, anyone found guilty of cruelty to animals, including abandonment of any animal, can be imprisoned for up to 18 months, fined up to $15,000, or both.

Source: SPCA Singapore Facebook