A 24-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to probation for multiple wildlife offences, including amputating a mouse’s leg without anaesthesia.
Jenson Neo also sold wildlife online a number of times, reported Lianhe Zaobao.
According to court documents, Neo’s pet mouse suffered an injury to its right front leg on 9 July 2022.
Believing the limb had become necrotic, he amputated it himself rather than seeking veterinary care.
He applied only a numbing cream to the mouse’s leg but failed to provide anaesthesia or painkillers, causing unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal.
Source: zorotoo’s Images on Canva. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Neo was not a qualified veterinarian and had not received any professional training.
Neo also illegally caught wild animals and offered them for sale online over a period of more than two years, according to Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
The offences were committed between January 2022 and February 2024.
In January 2022, Neo took two mangrove snakes from an unknown location without approval from the director-general of wildlife management.
On 7 July 2023, he offered to sell a bird from a protected wildlife species over Telegram.
Just days later on 11 July 2023, he kept a reticulated python at a house along Jalan Dermawan, in the Hillview area.
His online trades continued into Aug 2023, when he advertised a Malayan box turtle for sale over Telegram.
This was followed about a month later by the sale of a sugar glider to a buyer named Lisa for S$50.
In October 2023, Neo took a colugo, or flying lemur, from Dairy Farm Nature Park without approval.
In January 2024, he sold a corn snake to a user named “Lionel Ng” for S$250, again without approval.
On 26 Jan 2024, Neo found a common palm civet cub near his residence and kept it as a pet.
About a month later, on 22 Feb 2024, he advertised the cub for sale in a Telegram group, offering it for S$500.
It was heard that he found the amount reasonable, given that ordinary pets such as cats and dogs generally sell for four times that price.
Source: RealityImages on Canva. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Enforcement officers from the National Parks Board (NParks), posing as buyers, then contacted Neo.
They eventually agreed on a transaction price of S$580, which included a cage, and arranged to meet up at 7.30pm on 23 Feb 2024.
At about 8pm that night, Neo showed up with the animal.
As soon as the S$580 payment was made, multiple enforcement officers ambushed him and revealed their identities.
Neo attempted to open the cage to free the palm civet, but he was stopped.
When officers tried to apprehend him, he tried to break free, but was detained after a struggle.
On 2 Oct 2025, Neo was slapped with 13 charges, including offences under the Wildlife Act and the Animals and Birds Act.
He pleaded guilty to five of the charges, with the rest taken into consideration for sentencing.
He was eventually sentenced to 15 months of probation.
In addition, Neo must adhere to a curfew, complete 70 hours of community service, and undergo psychological evaluation and counselling.
His parents are required to cough up a S$5,000 bond to ensure his good behaviour.
According to the Wildlife Act, the feeding, release, killing, trapping, taking, and keeping of wildlife is not allowed without written approval from the Director-General of Wildlife Management.
The import, sale, and export of wildlife is also regulated.
Cruelty to animals, birds, or fish is an offence under the Animals and Birds Act.
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Featured image adapted from zorotoo’s Images on Canva and Our Wild Neighbours. Photos for illustration purposes only.