Drivers of Local Demand for Illegally Traded Wildlife, Effectiveness of Public Education and Data on Detection of Illegal Wildlife Trade in Past Five Years
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the key drivers of demand for illegally traded wildlife, the effectiveness of public education, and detection statistics on illegal wildlife trade over the past five years. Dr Charlene Chen asked for detection numbers at borders, proactive enforcement figures, and assessments of consumer demand and public awareness. Minister Chee Hong Tat replied that the National Parks Board (NParks) uses a multi-pronged approach involving international intelligence sharing, border operations, and partnership with WWF Singapore to monitor platforms. Over the past five years, NParks investigated 68 border cases of illegal live wildlife imports and 150 cases of illegal wildlife keeping, recently seizing 101 animals from six individuals. NParks also raises awareness and promotes compliance with the Wildlife Act and the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act through public, youth, and trade engagements.
Transcript
40 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for National Development whether NParks has assessed (a) the key drivers of local consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife, particularly exotic pets; and (b) the effectiveness of existing public education efforts in reducing such demand and raising awareness of the biodiversity, biosecurity and animal welfare consequences.
41 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for National Development regarding the illegal trade and possession of live wildlife, for each of the past five years (a) how many cases and animals were detected; (b) how many cases arose from proactive enforcement or surveillance as compared with public reports; and (c) how many were detected at Singapore's borders.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: As a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Singapore is committed to the global fight against illegal wildlife trade. The National Parks Board (NParks) adopts a multi-pronged approach to combat such activities.
NParks works closely with international partners to share intelligence, collaborates with government agencies on border enforcement and monitors physical and online marketplaces and public reports. NParks also works with the World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore (WWF Singapore) to monitor and engage social media and messaging platforms to detect, flag and act against illegal wildlife trade.
These efforts complement our enforcement actions. For example, NParks identified six individuals suspected of illegal sale and possession of wildlife through online posts and advertisements and seized 101 illegally kept wildlife during raids on the individuals' residential premises on 14 September 2026.
Over the past five years, NParks investigated 68 cases involving the illegal import of live wildlife at the border, and 150 cases involving the illegal keeping of wildlife.
We raise public awareness of illegal wildlife trade through media and digital outreach, school outreach, publicity on wildlife seizures and organising the annual World Wildlife Day Regional Youth Symposium. NParks also engages trade associations and importers to promote compliance with the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act and the Wildlife Act.
NParks will continue to strengthen collaboration with our partners to raise awareness, disrupt illegal wildlife trade and take firm enforcement action against offenders.