[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: A man was fined S $ 5,000 on Wednesday (November 4) for transporting a live pangolin from Upper Seletar Reservoir Park to Lower Peirce Reservoir, allegedly for his own “safety”.
Chong Soo Yong, 56, pleaded guilty to one count under the Parks and Trees Act of displacing the pangolin around 1.30 am on October 6 last year.
The court heard that the National Parks Board (NParks) received comments around 2 a.m. that day that two men were seen pulling a pangolin out of the Upper Seletar Reservoir Park.
This is an official catchment area under the Parks and Trees Act.
Investigations revealed that Chong was with a person known only as Tony in a pickup truck when they spotted a live pangolin on a grassy edge near the road.
Both men approached the animal and Tony lifted it up by the tail, putting it in a bag.
A passerby saw what happened and asked why they took the animal away.
The men responded that there were “too many ants in that area” and that they were removing the pangolin for their safety. The passerby told them to release the pangolin, but they did not.
They got back into the truck and drove off, with the passerby following closely in his car.
The men drove near the Lower Peirce Reservoir and released the pangolin along a grassy edge.
Chong admitted to displacing the pangolin, but was unable to elaborate on Tony when asked.
The prosecutor said Chong had no prior convictions and asked for a fine of at least S $ 5,000.
He said there is only one other similar case of animal displacement, in which a criminal was fined S $ 1,200 for displacing clams.
He said Chong “was not forthcoming” and would not reveal Tony’s details.
“And your reasons for displacing the pangolin because of the presence of ants … pangolins eat ants!” added the prosecutor.
Chong had nothing to say in mitigation.
For displacing an animal from an area within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, listed under the Parks and Trees Act, Chong could have been imprisoned for up to six months, fined up to S $ 50,000, or both.
