Endangered pig-tailed macaque rehomed in Malaysia

Endangered pig-tailed macaque rehomed in Malaysia

SINGAPORE - A pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) will be rehomed in Malaysia after it was recsued from a car workshop.

Yesterday, the macaque was transported from the Singapore Zoo to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN Negeri Johor), where it is being rehabilitated and quarantined at a Wildlife Rescue Centre before being assessed on its suitability to be released back to its natural habitat.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) had rescued the macaque from a car workshop at Defu Lane on May 6, 2015 following a tip-off from the Animals Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES).


Wildlife Reserves Singapore, as the designated rescued wildlife centre, assisted with the care of the pig-tailed macaque for the past three months.

The macaque, found chained in a cage, was subsequently referred to Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) for proper care and custody.

It was later established that the owner of the workshop had kept the macaque as a pet after it was found abandoned at his workshop. He was compounded S$500 by AVA for being in possession of the macaque.

As part of a collaborative effort to save, rehabilitate and rehome animals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, AVA, ACRES and WRS worked together with Malaysian wildlife authorities to rehome the macaque in Malaysia.


The macaque arrives at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN).

All macaques are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is an international agreement to ensure that trade does not threaten wildlife species with extinction. Possession of a CITES animal which has been imported without a permit is an offence.

It is also a violation of the Wild Animal & Birds Act to keep a wild animal without a licence from AVA. The offender may be liable, on conviction, to a fine of up to S$50,000 per scheduled species (not exceeding an aggregate of S$500,000) and/or imprisonment of up to two years, and up to S$1,000 per wild animal or bird, respectively. The illegally acquired animals would be confiscated and forfeited by AVA.

Anyone with information on illegal wildlife trade activities may contact AVA at 6805-2992 or via AVA's online feedback form (http://bit.ly/XhIp9P) to make a report immediately. All information shared with AVA will be kept strictly confidential.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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