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SINGAPORE – The carcass of a ‘monster’ fish discovered on Sunday (February 14) in MacRitchie Reservoir is the latest sighting of an exotic species that is not supposed to be here at all.
It was identified as a crocodile. The fish, native to North America, can grow to a length of 2.5m, and is known to be released by owners who cannot cope with its size.
Over the past 10 years, more than 20 people have faced enforcement action for illegally releasing animals, the national water agency PUB and the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
The fish carcass was removed by PUB on Monday.
When these non-native animal populations grow, they compete for natural resources with native biodiversity, according to the statement.
In January 2019, around 140 motorized manta rays, which are not native, were removed from the Lower Peirce Reservoir.
According to Dr. Tan Heok Hui, an ichthyologist (or marine biologist who studies fish) at the Lee Kong Chian Museum of Natural History, there has only been one catch of a crocodile in Singapore, but it is “quite common” in local fishmongers. where juveniles are sold, with an average of around 20 cm.
“Its meat is collected for food in Mexico, although its eggs are toxic,” he added.
The Bedok Reservoir, Marina Reservoir and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park are among the places where the fish has been seen over the past two decades.
While the latest sighting fascinated geologist Karen Lythgoe, who shared it on the Nature Society (Singapore) Facebook group after encountering the corpse on Sunday, she was shocked to discover its origins.
“I was very surprised when I found out that the fish was released in the wild, that’s just irresponsible,” Dr. Lythgoe said.
Under the Public Services Regulations, those who release animals into reservoirs and waterways can be fined up to $ 3,000.
Violators caught releasing animals into parks and nature reserves face fines of up to $ 50,000, while those who release wildlife can be fined up to $ 5,000.
“We would like to remind everyone that releasing animals into our bodies of water will disrupt the delicate aquatic ecosystem of our waters and may also pose a risk to the users of our bodies of water,” NParks and PUB said.
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