The Ills in the Wildlife Trade

Hi everyone and welcome back to my blog! We will be investigating the environmental impacts of the wildlife trade. One of my coursemates, Stacia, has her entire blog on the illegal wildlife trade so if you would like to find out more, do check out her blog here!

To start off, I would like to give a brief introduction about the wildlife trade. The World Wide Fund for Nature defines it as ‘people sell[ing] or exchang[ing] wild animal and plant resources’. The trade happens because people use wildlife to make clothes, food, build things, or obtain money in exchange. Wildlife trade is not always illegal. Yet, about 40% of animal populations saw a decrease in their numbers from 1970 to 2000.

Biodiversity loss

The introduction of invasive species from the wildlife trade often results in the loss of native biodiversity. These newly introduced animals compete for food and prey on native animals in the area, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. They also cause other damaging impacts such as altering the natural state of the environment, and pollution that arises from chemicals used to manage the overpopulation of invasive species.

Red-Eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Red-Eared Slider (Image by bamyers4az)
Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus)
Javan Myna (Image by Sergey Pisarevskiy)

We see them everywhere, don’t we? Did you know that the Red-Eared Slider and the Javan Myna are not native to Singapore and are termed invasive alien species? Have you ever thought about the consequences they have on Singapore’s biodiversity? Well, I’m here to shed some light on this issue.

Javan Mynas were initially brought to Singapore in the 1920s, and now their numbers are plentiful as they are Singapore’s most commonly seen bird. Being a very adaptable bird, it has competed with Singapore’s native bird, the Oriental Magpie Robin. Numbers of our native bird has since seen a massive decline and has become nationally threatened.

Red-Eared Sliders originated from the United States. These terrapins are currently sold in pet stores and are in fact, one of the most popular terrapins among Singaporeans. When they outgrow their tanks or lose their attractiveness, pet owners sometimes release them into water bodies as they are unwilling to care for them. Personally, I have been to Macritchie Reservoir recently and noticed that there were many of them swimming in the waters. They are known to cause severe impacts on the local ecosystem. Red-Eared Sliders fight with native turtle species like the Malayan Box Turtle for nesting and basking space, posing a threat to their survival.

Places like the UK have already banned the sale of Red-Eared Sliders. With so many irresponsible pet owners and negative consequences of having them in our local waters, it is appalling that it is still legal to own one here in Singapore. Do you think they should be banned as well?

-Amanda

 

Reference list:

“Red-Eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)” by bamyers4az is licensed under CC BY 2.0

“Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus)” by Sergey Pisarevskiy is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

4 Comments Add yours

  1. yalinikmr says:

    Hello Amanda!

    Wow, I had no idea that the Javan Myna I see everywhere is considered an invasive species! Thank you for shedding some light on this! I remember we discussed in lecture that some methods used to remove invasive species can be ineffective and can have other impacts on the ecosystem. Has Singapore done anything to remove these 2 species in particular and have these methods worked?

    ~ Yalini

    1. Amanda says:

      Hi Yalini,

      Thanks for dropping by! According to this article, Singapore is employing a method where the birds are caught in a giant net and culled using carbon dioxide. This method seems to be successful, and will only be used whenever the birds are causing problems with cleanliness and excessive noise. Prior to this method, AVA has also tried to prune trees where the Javan Mynas roost and pointing lasers so that they cannot return to their roosting trees. However, these approaches have proved to be unsuccessful. Currently, it is illegal for people to release their Red-Eared Sliders into parks and nature reserves, though the authorities are lax in enforcing these regulations. I am unable to find any information regarding whether Singapore has any measures in place to remove it from our ecosystem but I found that organisations like ACRES do not take them into their facilities, hence many pet owners release them illegally. Hope this helps!

      – Amanda

  2. Yu Xun says:

    Hi Amanda,

    Having reared a couple of Red-Ear Sliders when I was a kid, I feel strongly towards this question on whether they should be banned in Singapore. By banning them, it means that only a single species of turtle is allowed to be kept in Singapore: the Malayan Box Turtle. It could lead to an increase in appetite for exotic species, some that might be endangered, as turtle lovers may be bored of the idea of keeping a single breed of turtles. Even during the status quo where Red-Ear Sliders are allowed, there’s been frequent news of smugglers bringing in Indian Star Tortoises, a species listed as vulnerable by the IUCN across Singapore’s borders.

    Rather than a complete ban, I feel that the authorities can play a larger role in protecting Singapore’s biodiversity. Introducing stiffer fines and increasing enforcement patrols can reduce the number of alien species entering the local ecosystem. Alternatively, they could better educate the public and stress the importance of responsible ownership. By thinking through before purchasing a Red-Ear Slider, owners are less likely to release them into the wild as they’re committed to rearing them for the duration of their life cycle. What are your thoughts on such measures?

    Cheers,
    Yu Xun

    1. Amanda says:

      Hi Yu Xun,

      Thanks for the alternative viewpoint about the increase in the demand for exotic pets when the common Red-Eared Sliders are banned. I agree with the measures you have proposed as after all, it does start from the mindset of pet owners. I believe that pet store owners, in particular, should inform customers about the heavy commitment and urge them to think twice before purchasing these Red-Eared Sliders. Furthermore, authorities should increase patrols because they do not enforce it strictly, which leads to more people releasing them illegally 🙁

      – Amanda

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