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Five rare albino red-eared slider terrapins were rescued from rocks at West Coast Park after being found in seawater. ACRES is now seeking adopters and warns that abandoning pets is illegal.
Five rare albino red-eared slider terrapins were rescued from rocks on the coast of West Coast Park on Sept 27 after they were found exposed to seawater.
ACRES Rescues Albino Terrapins From Rocks
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) was alerted through its wildlife rescue hotline at about 11am that day, it said in a media reply on Oct 3. Photos of the terrapins show them perched on the rocks near the water. ACRES said it was particularly concerned about their exposure to salt water, which can cause severe dehydration and death. Red-eared sliders are not adapted to living in seawater.
Prompt intervention helped prevent this outcome, and ACRES thanked its callers for alerting it and for returning to check for more terrapins. While ACRES does not typically rescue or take in red-eared sliders, the organisation said it intervened in this case so that the terrapins could be secured and prevented from suffering a potentially painful death. The terrapins are generally healthy, although they were found with old lesions, shell damage, healed ulcers and a broken nail.
ACRES said it does not have sufficient information to determine who may have released the terrapins. According to ACRES, albino red-eared sliders are less common than the ones typically seen in pet shops and aquariums.
Albino Red-Eared Sliders Need Specialist Care
However, they are still sold by many aquariums in Singapore, albeit at a higher price. Red-eared sliders can cost as little as $2 to $6, but their long-term care requires appropriate housing and specialised conditions. Although ACRES has received many reports involving abandonment, poor welfare and owners intending to surrender their pets, it said cases involving albino red-eared sliders are rare. It cautioned owners against releasing them into Singapore's natural environment when they can no longer care for them.
As pets, they may not have the ability to survive independently in the environment, and releasing them can expose them to injury, starvation and other risks. It is also illegal to do so. Under Singapore law, abandoning pets is illegal and can result in a fine of up to S$5,000. ACRES said it has encountered cases of abandoned terrapins being released into reservoirs and other water bodies.
It urged owners never to release unwanted animals into the environment and to seek appropriate help or rehoming options instead. ACRES added that it had previously responded to welfare concerns involving red-eared terrapins kept in inadequate conditions, including in small enclosures without appropriate facilities like access to sunlight, sufficient water, a suitable filtration system and a basking platform.
ACRES Calls Against Terrapin Sales And Release
It said it has always advocated against the import and sale of red-eared slider terrapins due to the welfare and abandonment concerns associated with the species. Their needs go beyond simply providing them with a tank of water, and owners need to be prepared for the long-term commitment involved in caring for them. Even though the terrapins are currently healthy, ACRES stresses that continual monitoring is needed to ensure their recovery.
It also said monitoring is needed to verify that any reintroduction into a freshwater habitat does not pose ecological risks. The rescue demonstrates ACRES commitment to wildlife welfare and the importance of community vigilance when encountering potentially distressed animals. ACRES is currently seeking suitable adopters for the five terrapins. The organisation hopes the public will respond positively to the adoption appeal and refrain from releasing pets into the wild.
The public is reminded that responsible pet ownership is a duty that preserves both individual animals and the ecosystem as a whole. The Straits Times and AsiaOne have contacted the National Parks Board for comment on the incident.
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straits_times:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Red‑Eared Slider Terrapins Wildlife Rescue West Coast Park Pet Ownership ACRES Albino Red-Eared Slider Terrapins Pet Abandonment ACRES Rescue Saltwater Exposure West Coast Park Rescue Animal Abandonment Terrapin Adoption Adoption Appeal
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