Despite the best efforts of animal welfare groups, glue traps continue to pose a danger to wildlife in Singapore.
The issue came to the forefront again when no less than 28 animals were found caught in glue traps in the month of June.
Source: ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) on Facebook
The dire figure was revealed by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) (ACRES) in a Facebook post last Saturday (27 July).
The 28 animals were ensnared over 30 days last month and comprised:
Source: ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) on Facebook
ACRES said the round-up was part of its “deep dive” into the monthly data surrounding glue traps to find out a number of things:
This was done since the authorities released new guidelines on glue traps.
Source: ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) on Facebook
It was referring to the revised guidelines that were issued in a circular to pest control operators on 15 May, reported The Straits Times (ST).
They stipulated that glue traps must stick to a maximum size of 35cm by 25cm, cannot be used in outdoor or semi-open areas and have to be checked daily, among other recommendations.
However, ACRES noted that only 25% of the animals trapped in June were found on traps laid by pest control companies.
Another 20% of cases involved traps set up in open areas. Animals were even caught in covered traps, it said.
Strangely enough, for more than half the cases, the origin of the glue traps was unknown to those who reported them.
As such, they “remain shrouded in mystery”, ACRES added.
Source: ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) on Facebook
ACRES said no regulations exist for the purchase of do-it-yourself glue traps.
Thus, they are “often purchased by the public for use” it added, saying,
Please share to educate each other on the ill-effects, and on alternatives to managing rodent issues by removing/securing food attractants.
ACRES has been advocating against glue traps for years, saying they cause prolonged suffering to animals and are indiscriminate in their targets.
On 9 May, it renewed its call for glue traps to be regulated in Singapore, saying animals caught in glue traps suffer starvation, dehydration, and suffocation, eventually enduring “agonising deaths”.
Those rescued face a “gruelling” recovery process and often succumb to their injuries or require extensive medical intervention.
Since 2014, nearly 2,000 animals have been saved from glue traps — 25% of them protected species, said ACRES.
In a survey of 1,000 respondents late last year, 61% said they would discard live rats found caught in glue boards, it added.
If they found wildlife in the glue boards, almost half of those surveyed would throw the animals away. Only 10% said they would alert animal welfare groups or the National Parks Board (NParks).
Also read: 7 animals caught in glue traps in 1 day, including mother & baby squirrels that died
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Featured image adapted from ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore) on Facebook.
All the individuals had earlier consumed food from the same source, SCDF said.
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There were no reported injuries.
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