The Wildlife Act 1965 in Singapore aims to protect, preserve, and manage wildlife to maintain a healthy ecosystem and safeguard public safety and health.
A person must not offer for sale, sell or export any wildlife, or any part of a wildlife, unless the person has the Director‑General’s written approval to do so (Section 8). A person must not import into Singapore any living wildlife unless the person has the Director‑General’s written approval to do so (Section 9). The Act further prohibits the feeding, release, killing, trapping, taking, and keeping of wildlife without a written approval from the Director-General.
The Act also outlines powers and procedures for enforcement, such as the power to arrest without a warrant, examination of individuals, requiring information about contraventions, forfeiture in criminal proceedings, and the Director-General's powers after forfeiture. In addition, it establishes penalties for non-compliance.