Animal smuggling cases fall 33% in 2025: ICA, NParks
Animal smuggling cases in Singapore fell 33 per cent in 2025 with 28 cases detected, compared with 42 in 2024, said the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a joint statement on Friday (Feb 13). NParks said the cases it detected last year in coordination with partner agencies such as ICA involved pets as well as wildlife for the pet trade, including dogs, cats, fish, birds, and species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). There were 35 cases reported in 2023 and 34 in 2022. Out of the 28 cases detected last year, eight led to court charges while 20 resulted in composition fines issued to offenders, including buyers. NParks emphasised that animal smuggling not only harms the animals involved but also poses broader risks to public health and safety, as smuggled animals may carry infectious and contagious diseases that can threaten native wildlife, resident pets and even humans.