Latest news with #NParks
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
Dog breeder at Sungei Tengah fined S$4,000 for various lapses
SINGAPORE: A dog breeder in Sungei Tengah was fined S$4,000 (US$3,100) on Friday (Jun 20) for regulatory breaches of terms and conditions for breeding dogs. Among these lapses, Lismore Pet Enterprise was convicted of failing to sterilise breeding dogs within six months of their retirement from breeding. Lismore Pet Enterprise is located at The Animal Lodge and was bound by regulations relating to breeding dogs as a licensed pet farm, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in court. Officers from the Animal and Veterinary Services (AVS) found the contraventions when they inspected the company's premises at several units in two blocks on Nov 1, 2023. During the inspection, AVS officers found kennels with multiple gaps and holes in the flooring that could trap feet or paws. Two kennels where three and five dogs were housed had multiple such gaps. This breached a condition that required flooring for dogs to be firm and safe. In relation to the sterilisation of retired breeding dogs, in one instance, officers found a female Japanese spitz that was not sterilised despite being eight years and 11 months old. Lismore failed to sterilise the dog within six months after its retirement at the age of six. Apart from these lapses, the company failed to keep a register for the movement of dogs in its care. It did not have such a system, NParks said. Regulations require a licensee to maintain a register to record the movement of dogs to other premises such as homes, farms, pet shops and salons. In total, Lismore pleaded guilty to four charges, while another 22 charges of a similar nature were considered for sentencing. NParks sought a fine of S$6,000. Lismore's lawyer Victor David Lau said that his client's business had been one of the largest pet farms in Singapore for decades, having been in business for a long time. He added that Lismore has a clean record with no instances of animal cruelty. Since then, Lismore has taken steps to rectify its lapses, said Mr Lau. The company has had genuine reasons for failing to comply with some regulations, said Mr Lau, adding that Lismore's usual supplier of flooring was no longer in business, resulting in a delay in procuring replacements.
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
FAQ: Hit an animal while driving on Singapore roads? Here's what you should do
SINGAPORE: A recent spate of community cat deaths sparked public outcry, but the National Parks Board (NParks) said in early June that there is no evidence to suggest these cases involved deliberate acts of animal cruelty. The two community cat deaths in Yishun and Punggol were instead likely caused by vehicle accidents, NParks concluded, while another cat found dead at a void deck in Tampines was the result of a traffic incident. CNA gives the lowdown on what you should do if you happen to hit an animal while driving and your obligations. Can you continue driving? According to the Road Traffic Act, motorists must stop if their vehicles caused injury or death to any animal as long as they can "reasonably tell" that the animal has an owner or that the animal's presence on the road is "likely to pose any safety hazard" to other road users. All animal species are covered under the Act. In response to CNA's queries, NParks advised motorists to drive with caution in residential and forested areas, and to drive within speed limits or reduce their speed. They should also be alert to the crossing of animals when driving in such areas and along roads flanked by forested areas, especially where there are signs to indicate animal crossings, it added. What should you do upon colliding with an animal? Traffic police (TP) told CNA that motorists who have hit an animal while driving should stop their vehicle in a safe location and turn on the hazard lights to alert other drivers. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that the relevant authorities should be contacted, depending on the animal's well-being. They are: Motorists who are unsure if the animal is dead or alive can take a video and forward it to ACRES, said a spokesperson, adding that they should avoid touching or handling the animal, and to wait for ACRES' advice. If the animal is dead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) should be contacted at 1800 2255 632 for removal of the carcass. An NEA spokesperson said that the agency is responsible for clearing animal carcasses in public areas, excluding estates maintained by town councils, in the interest of public health. If the accident has caused obstruction to traffic or if the presence of the animal on the road is likely to endanger road users, the police must be immediately informed and reasonable steps have to be taken to alert others of the obstruction. What if the accident is serious? According to SPCA, if the accident has led to death or serious injury to a human, or resulted in serious damage to a vehicle or structure, the vehicles involved and any evidence must not be moved unless directed by the police. The only exceptions are if it is needed to rescue the people or animals involved, or to prevent further hazards. In such cases, the vehicle or its parts may be moved only as far as it is needed. "The motorist should capture potential evidence by taking clear photos and videos with timestamps, and by documenting the exact address of the location," said Ms Aarthi Sankar, executive director of the SPCA. How common are road accidents involving animals? Ms Sankar said that in 2024, SPCA investigated 15 hit-and-run cases involving animals. However, she noted that that figure is "only a subset" of the cases, as some are reported to other animal welfare organisations, while others go unreported or unnoticed. SPCA added it could not provide data on other years. In 2024, at least two sambar deer died on the roads, while wildlife groups have also noticed an 'exponential increase' in reported roadkill of the critically endangered Sunda pangolins in recent years. Mandai Wildlife Group's animal hospital, for instance, saw more than 40 pangolins killed or injured on average in a year between 2021 and 2023, up from around 20 annually between 2015 and 2020. A spokesperson for NEA said that over the past three years, it has received an average of 1,700 public feedback annually on dead animals and birds sighted. Members of the public are advised to report any sightings of animal carcasses via the myENV or OneService app. How can you tell if the animal is a road hazard? There is no specific size criterion to determine if an animal constitutes a road hazard, said TP. "Motorists should consider factors, such as traffic volume, the position of the animal on the road, and the road speed limit. If the animal obstructs any part of the road or may force other road users to make evasive manoeuvres or sudden braking, the animal should be moved but only if it is safe to do so." Should you move the animal if it is obstructing traffic? If the injured animal or carcass is in a position where it poses a safety hazard to other road users, motorists may move it to a safe location if it is safe to do so, said TP. Otherwise, motorists may call the police for assistance. However, you should not try to touch or handle certain animals, according to ACRES. "Animals like wild pigs, otters and sambar deers who are injured can be defensive and scared and we suggest for (the) public not to handle them," it said, adding that motorists can contact the society or NParks for assistance and advice. What if the animal appears to be a pet? In cases where the animal is likely to be a pet, motorists must take reasonable steps to inform its owner of the accident, said NParks. The agency added that drivers should take note of whether the animal has any collars, tags or other identifying features, and if possible, capture clear photographs. The information should then be sent to NParks, so that the agency can help reunite the animal with its owner or caregiver. Those driving should also take note of the location of the accident, said ACRES, adding that they can also post on Facebook pages which are focused on lost and found pets.
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
S'pore app using AI to combat illegal wildlife trade acquired by US start-up
The app was born from a collaboration between NParks, Microsoft Singapore and non-profit group Conservation International. PHOTO: ST FILE S'pore app using AI to combat illegal wildlife trade acquired by US start-up SINGAPORE - A mobile application launched in Singapore in 2022 to combat illegal w ildlife trade has been acquired by a US-based biodiversity technology firm. The app, called Fin Finder, is the first-of-its-kind in Asia which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help border enforcement officers identify illegally traded shark and ray fins. Users are able to upload a photo of a fin on the app and its algorithm will analyse its shapes and patterns to identify the species of origin. Born from a collaboration between Singapore's National Park Board (NParks), Microsoft Singapore and non-profit group Conservation International, the app was acquired by Washington-based Conservation X Labs in April 2025. Since its launch, the app has been adopted by law enforcement agencies in 32 countries, and has an accuracy level of 89.4 per cent, NParks said in response to The Straits Times' queries. Over the years, it has also been regularly updated with the appendix status of each species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), which outlines its level of protection under international trade laws, the agency added. While Conservation X Labs will manage the app, moving forward, NParks said that it remains an implementing partner and user. Dr Anna Wong, NParks' senior director of wildlife trade, said: 'Using technology like Fin Finder can strengthen enforcement against the illegal trade of shark and ray species, and enhance Singapore's capabilities in conserving biodiversity.' She added that the app' s creation has highlighted the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors in fighting illegal wildlife trade. In an April 2025 statement to app users, Conservation X Labs, which helped to build Fin Finder's machine learning models, said that the acquisition may enable further development in its image analysis technology, and the expansion of the app's reach. A free, rapid identification tool Fin Finder's biggest strengths, said its founders, is that it is a free-to-use, rapid identification tool. In the shark's fin trade, fins are often imported in containers with mixed shipments, said Dr Andrew Rhyne, a professor of marine biology at the Roger Williams University and one of the app's founders. As a result, a percentage of the shipment are often fins of Cites-protected species, which are nestled among those that are not. Dr Rhyne said: 'High-quality, rapid identification tools that are inexpensive and accurate would be very useful for customs and border agents.' Fin Finder is part of a two-step process, he explained, where enforcement officers first use the app to identify species that have been illegally traded before confirming this through DNA testing. This is crucial given the sheer volume and diversity of wildlife products that pass through country borders, said Dr Michael Tlusty, a professor of sustainability and food solutions at the University of Massachusetts Boston and another of the app's founders. Citing a recently published paper which found that nearly 30,000 species of animals were imported into America over two decades, he said: 'Nobody's going to know 30,000 species, so these automated tools make the job of customs agents much easier.' The app's usage over the past years has also resulted in over 4,000 photos of shark fins, which Dr Rhyne said is valuable information that can help its developers fortify its AI model. Scaling up for global use Looking ahead, Fin Finder's founders said possibilities for the app are limitless. Mr Eric Fegraus, a former senior director of technology at Conservation International who led efforts to develop the app, said: 'It could scale to other species – certainly, more sharks – and be implemented in other areas in the world where it's needed.' Dr Tlusty, likewise, believes that the app's technology can be modified to identify other animal derivative products. He said: 'As we build more identification algorithms, such as edge detection and spot recognition, we can even start combining them.' Ultimately, Mr Fegraus said it is about developing flexible technology that can be used to enforce the regulations of the day. While he acknowledges that ideological debates on whether mankind should even fish for animals, like sharks, remain necessary, he said having the tools to aid in enforcement are equally important. 'Particularly around wildlife, we've got to, at the minimum, enforce the rules, and then eventually, we have to change the rules,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
Meet the Stomper, GrabFood rider and NParks volunteer who keeps Singapore's parks thriving
Meet the Stomper, GrabFood rider and NParks volunteer who keeps Singapore's parks thriving Have you ever walked through a park and wondered who takes care of these lush green spaces we enjoy every day? Well, National Parks Board volunteers, like Stomper Wencong, play a part in upkeeping the biodiversity in parks around Singapore. Stomper Wencong studied a horticulture course at Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) Delta Senior School, which sparked his passion for nature. After graduating this year, he realised he wanted to contribute to making Singapore's green spaces more beautiful and started volunteering with NParks. Wencong's volunteer work. PHOTO: STOMP He gave Stomp a run-down of what his role entails: "As a volunteer, I've been involved in landscape maintenance, which includes tasks like pruning plants, clearing leaves, and ensuring the overall aesthetic appeal of the parks. "Horticulture maintenance involves caring for plants, like watering, fertilising and propagating them. I've also been learning about resident gardening, which focuses on creating and maintaining gardens in residential areas." Wencong told Stomp that he works part-time as a GrabFood delivery rider. "Volunteering in landscape maintenance is just a hobby that I started this June. I volunteer for about an hour each week at Woodlands Waterfront Park," he added. Wencong is proud to be able to witness biodiversity thrive as a result of NParks volunteers' hard work. "My favourite part about volunteering is seeing the impact of my work and knowing that I'm helping to create a more beautiful environment for everyone to enjoy. "One memorable moment was when I saw the Asian Weaver Ants thriving in the park after we helped to create a safe habitat for them." Wencong encourages everyone to engage in horticulture activities, as it can improve mental well-being. View more photos in the gallery. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
Cyclist shot in restricted forested area: Illegal trails may have formed over past years, says cycling body
SINGAPORE: Singapore's cycling governing body has urged riders to stay on designated trails and follow safety guidelines, after a cyclist suffered a gunshot wound on Sunday (Jun 15) while riding in a restricted forested area near Nee Soon Range. Illegal trails might have formed over the years as people deviated from designated routes, while a lack of clear signs may have contributed to unauthorised entry, said the Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF). The incident happened within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, between the Upper Seletar and Upper Peirce reservoirs. It was near where the Singapore Armed Forces was conducting a live-firing exercise. The police said on Wednesday that the 42-year-old cyclist is now under investigation for wilful trespass. The federation's vice president (mountain bike) Faroz Marzoki said mountain bikers should be aware of prohibited areas and follow the rules and regulations when taking part in trail activities. Riders can check with the National Parks Board (NParks) or the SCF if they are unsure whether a cycling trail is sanctioned or not, he added. 'I will always be clear. I will say this is not right. You shouldn't go here. This is where you should stick to,' said Mr Faroz. He also encouraged cyclists to carry their mobile phones to remain contactable, and ride with a buddy whenever possible. Singapore's nature reserves are popular cycling destinations for mountain bike enthusiasts, he noted, adding that many cyclists with military experience from serving National Service like himself make use of their navigation skills to explore rustic areas and enjoy wildlife sightings. However, he said the injured cyclist may not have been aware of signs demarcating the location of permitted routes as new trails form over time, with some bypassing the locations where signs are placed. Mr Faroz said that efforts are ongoing by the SCF to educate enthusiasts on proper trail etiquette, locations of signages, including a trail map that informs any visitors to the nature reserves about areas restricted to the public. Designated trails are located near shelters equipped with first aid devices like automated external defibrillators, and are accessible to first responders in case of emergencies, he added. DIFFICULT TO FENCE OFF NATURE As mountain bike trails are often found in rugged terrain and nature reserves, guides and instructors said it is difficult to set up warning signs at every entry point. Mr Wilson Low, a mountain biking guide and instructor at Raw Epics, said that while signage is extensive along official routes, there are small side trails that lead out to unsanctioned areas that cannot be fenced off due to other factors like military training and wildlife. '(It might) affect the environment … potentially restricting the movement of wildlife (and) flora,' he added. Mr Low noted that the cyclist suffered the gunshot wound in a restricted area deep inside the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, away from the officially designated mountain bike trails maintained by NParks. Mountain bikers noted that certain areas are not heavily forested, and it is easy to go off the designated trails - meaning riders can potentially get lost and even put themselves in danger. Mr Low said as mountain biking increases in popularity, the community should discuss upgrading, expanding or lengthening routes in the existing official trail network with the authorities. Chestnut Nature Park is one of a handful of mountain bike trails in land-scarce Singapore. Such routes can be found in Kent Ridge Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve as well, among others. "As much as people love to ride trails, the more they ride, the more they eventually reach a point where they may get bored of the official offerings,' Mr Low added. 'You could actually go overseas to ride in other countries … or the other option will be to explore trails which are not official in Singapore, and of course, that opens up a whole new can of worms.' He said providing enthusiasts with well-maintained and exciting trails can help to improve safety standards while taking into account factors like limited land space. Mr Low added that if cyclists take responsibility and respect the boundaries, they can still enjoy the thrill of mountain biking on designated trails as long as they are well-maintained. "I think the dialogue going forward definitely needs to centre around preserving and maintaining the trails that we have … to a suitable enough standard (so) that they are safe, accessible, exciting and attractive to (the) growing numbers of mountain bikers in the sport, regardless of level of ability of fitness,' he said.
