SINGAPORE – With a current spate of animals coming into properties, the query of what to do in such situations has been on the minds of many.
A reader wrote in to The Straits Times Forum about her temporary encounter with hornbills at her balcony, whereas in September, a group of otters was reported to have eaten a Yio Chu Kang resident’s prized koi.
The Straits Times requested some specialists what you should do if a wild animal strays into your home.
1. Should you feed the animal?
No; feeding wild animals is prohibited in Singapore.
Under the Wildlife Act, it’s unlawful to feed any wild animal, together with its younger. First-time offenders might be fined a most of $5,000 whereas repeat offenders face a most superb of $10,000.
Furthermore, feeding wild creatures might intervene with their behaviour.
Ms Anbarasi Boopal, co-chief government of Acres, a non-profit in Singapore devoted to wildlife rescues, stated: “We positively urge folks to not feed wild animals, not solely because of its prohibition, but additionally as a result of it can situation their behaviour to hunt out people for meals.
“This can result in much more skirmishes between people and animals within the wild, that are total detrimental to co-existing.”
She famous that there’s additionally adequate meals within the wild for animals to forage.
2. How should you defend your residence in opposition to wild animal theft?
Wild animals, equivalent to macaques, typically go to properties whereas passing between main areas of habitation.
As a consequence, specialists advise the general public to maintain meals waste and meals hid and lidded to forestall the animals from associating human properties with foraging spots.
Sometimes, the animal might steal what’s yours, like otters consuming prized pet fish, and bats consuming fruit off timber in gardens.
In these instances, specialists suggest extra particular protecting measures to discourage the animals, equivalent to draping opaque material over fruit to cover them from bats, and putting in obstacles to forestall otters from coming into ponds.
Acres additionally appeals to the general public to not use glue traps or netting to entice animals, as these could cause hurt and extended struggling to them.
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