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  Straits Times Forum Online 20 Feb 06
Reptiles make great pets, so legalise their trade under Endangered Species Act
Letter from Lim Zhi Wei
Hong Kong

 I REFER to the new Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act passed by Parliament on Jan 17. I am a Singaporean working in Hong Kong for more than 10 years. As a child, I was fascinated by insects and reptiles, often catching spiders, grasshoppers and tadpoles after school.

I was introduced to the exciting world of herpetology eight years ago by a client from Europe. Ever since, I have kept and bred many species of reptiles, all obtained legally in my home in Hong Kong.

I have both positive and negative reactions to the new law. It is great that smugglers of endangered wildlife will be fined heftily and imprisoned. This will hopefully reduce poaching of endangered species such as the tiger, rhinoceros and orang utan.

However, I am puzzled that the Government has not legalised the trade of captive bred reptiles and amphibians in Singapore. Reptiles and amphibians have been captive-bred for commercial trade in many countries, including the United States, for decades. These animals make great pets in space-constrained Singapore and they suit the busy lifestyle of Singaporeans as they do not need the constant attention that is required by a dog or a parrot.

As an avid reptile keeper, I strongly discourage and despise the trade of wild-caught animals as pets. These animals are often shipped under tremendous stress and they carry parasites, both of which shorten their lifespan in captivity. Removing animals from their natural habitat also greatly reduce their natural population.

On the contrary, captive-bred reptiles and amphibians, like any other common pet, are used to life in captivity. Given ample space and proper care, they not only thrive but even breed in their captive environment.

With the Internet so accessible these days, information on proper care and husbandry of exotic pets is widespread and can be easily found online. In Hong Kong and many other parts of the world where the trade in exotic pets is legal, pet shops sell a wide range of products and equipment that are specially designed and manufactured for the proper care of these pets.

Instead of banning the sale of such beautiful creatures, the Singapore Government should allow the trade in captive-bred specimens that come with proper documentation to confirm their origin. These documents should show the name of the breeder the animal comes from.

Take the Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) as an example. It is an endangered species. However, Singapore has allowed the trade of captive-bred Asian arowanas. A microchip is tagged to captive-bred arowanas to differentiate them from those in the wild.

The Government should also educate the public. It should promote responsible pet ownership by increasing awareness through exhibitions and the media. Do not show only the lucrative and dark side of this trade. Reptiles and amphibians should not be portrayed as dirty, dangerous and deadly creatures. Perhaps the Singapore Zoo can increase awareness and teach the masses to accept them.

It's a pity Singaporeans are not given a chance to explore and love the wonderful world of herpetology. They only get to see the negative side.
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