SINGAPORE: Outstanding wildlife photographer and conservation activist Michael Aw has condemned the Nationwide Parks Board’s (NParks) determination to euthanise the crocodile noticed within the waters off Sentosa, becoming a member of a rising wave of criticism directed on the statutory board over the dealing with of the case.
The reptile, estimated to be about two metres lengthy, was captured and euthanised on Could 6. NParks mentioned the transfer was made resulting from public security issues and the shortage of appropriate relocation choices.
The choice sparked widespread backlash on-line, with many social media customers arguing that the crocodile had not harmed anybody and shouldn’t have been put down. Mr Aw echoed these sentiments in a strongly worded Fb publish, the place he described the animal as having been “wrongly killed.”
“Simply because it entered the waters off Sentosa Cove, Singapore, it was captured, then killed. Not as a result of it attacked anybody. Not as a result of it hunted a baby. Not as a result of there was no various. It was euthanised so people may return to the seashore,” he wrote.
Mr Aw questioned humanity’s therapy of wildlife, including, “And we name ourselves probably the most clever species on Earth. What provides humanity the precise to determine which life deserves to exist and which doesn’t? Why will we always insist we’re superior to each different species that shares this planet with us?”
“This crocodile was not a felony. IT WAS LOST. The place is our compassion? Lets go round killing misplaced species of our personal?” he added.
The veteran wildlife photographer argued that extra ought to have been executed to discover options earlier than the crocodile was euthanised.
“Certainly in a nation as superior as Singapore, relocation prospects ought to have been exhausted earlier than execution turned the answer. Why have been sanctuaries not explored extra transparently?” he wrote.
Mr Aw is a widely known determine in wildlife and underwater images circles, with a profession spanning many years. His work has obtained greater than 60 worldwide awards and has been featured in publications together with BBC Wildlife, Nationwide Geographic, Smithsonian, GEO, Ocean GEOGRAPHIC, Asian Geographic, Motion Asia, and Nature Focus.
In 2010, he obtained the WYLAND ICON award for Conservation, whereas his documentary “Philippines – Coronary heart of the Ocean” gained the Palme d’Or on the World Underwater Photos Competition in France in 2009. He’s additionally the founding father of Ocean Geographic.
Drawing on his personal experiences interacting with crocodiles abroad, Mr Aw mentioned coexistence with apex predators is feasible when they’re dealt with responsibly.
“Because the founding father of Ocean Geographic, I, along with many members of our group, have lately travelled to Cuba and Mexico to responsibly work together with Saltwater crocodiles of their pure habitat. With due diligence, skilled guides and respect for wildlife, we now have by no means skilled life-threatening encounters,” he mentioned.
He added, “All over the world, persons are studying find out how to coexist with apex predators. But right here, a misplaced crocodile was sentenced to dying just because its existence disrupted human consolation.”
“WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN? That’s when wildlife turns into inconvenient; we kill it? Do apex species solely deserve safety after they keep invisible and much away from us?” he requested.
Mr Aw mentioned the incident mirrored a troubling perspective in the direction of wildlife and conservation.
“As somebody who has spent a lifetime documenting endangered species and witnessing humanity’s relentless enlargement into the final wild locations, I discover this deeply disturbing. Not just for the crocodile — however for what it says about us,” he wrote.
He additionally referred to as for better accountability over the decision-making course of, saying, “A public inquiry needs to be performed into how this determination was reached and whether or not each attainable non-lethal choice was genuinely explored. Accountability issues. Compassion issues. Ethics matter.”
In a press release issued on Could 7, NParks group director of wildlife administration, How Choon Beng, defined why relocation was not pursued.
Mr How mentioned Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, which at the moment has a crocodile inhabitants of round 20 animals, was not thought-about an acceptable launch web site for the reptile. He famous that NParks had beforehand relocated a smaller crocodile there in 2021.
He added that relocating saltwater crocodiles carries the chance of the animal returning to the realm the place it was first captured, probably creating additional hazard to the general public.
NParks additionally mentioned it had approached Mandai Wildlife Group about taking the crocodile into its care, however the organisation was unable to accommodate the animal.
In a separate assertion on Could 7, Mandai Wildlife Group mentioned choices on whether or not to simply accept animals are made primarily based on whether or not it could present appropriate welfare requirements and high quality of life.
The organisation mentioned it additionally has to contemplate the affect on its present animal inhabitants and conservation commitments.
“After cautious evaluation, we decided that we weren’t ready to offer a placement that might meet these requirements for this animal,” a spokesperson mentioned.
“It is a tough scenario, and this was not a call we made flippantly,” the spokesperson added.
