SINGAPORE: The exotic pet trade in Singapore has gained attention due to the non-native monitor lizard that stumbled into a Punggol flat last week.
There have been rumors since the incident that the animal was an illegal pet.
Concerns have also been raised about the size of the exotic pet market and the potential effects of non-native animals on the area’s biodiversity.
The National Parks Board (NParks) announced on Wednesday, July 3, that it is looking into the situation involving the non-native Rock Monitor lizard in Singapore. Africa is home to the Rock Monitor species of monitor lizard, usually grey-brown with white or yellowish markings.
The homeowner whose house the lizard had gotten lost in told CNA that the animal looked tidy, didn’t carry any dirt inside and had markings that were “not like the ones you see outside.
NParks emphasized that purchasing pets should only be done through approved pet stores or farms and that removing animals—including monitor lizards—from the wild is prohibited by Singapore’s Wildlife Act. For a first offense, anyone found selling or exporting wildlife illegally faces a fine of up to S$10,000, up to six months in jail, or both.
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