Terrapins abandoned on top of mailboxes in Boon Lay: Stomper warns against impulsive pet purchases
Two terrapins were found abandoned in a tank left on top of mailboxes at Block 180 Boon Lay Drive on March 16.
Stomper Jennifer alerted Stomp to the incident after her brother discovered the tank and took the terrapins home temporarily while searching for adopters.
Sharing her concerns, Jennifer highlighted that red-eared sliders, the species of the abandoned terrapins, can grow up to 30cm and live for up to 30 years.
"These turtles should not be bought on impulse just because they look small and cute in aquarium shops," she said. "They are in fact, very long-term commitments!"
Jennifer also urged the public not to release unwanted pet terrapins into local ponds, canals, or reservoirs in a Facebook post.
"They are not native to Singapore, and every red-eared slider we see in the 'wild' today is a discarded pet," she explained. "They are an invasive species that disrupt our ecosystem by competing with our native Malayan box turtles for food and consuming native fish and plants."
Fortunately, both terrapins have since been adopted as of March 20, but Jennifer hopes the incident will raise awareness about responsible pet ownership.
"I've received suggestions from people to just release them in ponds, which is exactly why we need to educate the public," she said.
"One of my colleagues told me that she once rescued a terrapin too, when her tenant went back to home country."
Last year, it was reported that a Punggol pond had turned dirty and smelly due to its population of abandoned terrapins.
Mr A. Sankar, co-founder and president of Herpetological Society Singapore, said the red-eared sliders would probably not survive in the wild.
Under the Animals and Birds Act, anyone found guilty of animal cruelty including abandonment can be imprisoned for up to 18 months, fined up to $15,000, or both.
