SINGAPORE: For over a month, a network of linked TikTok and Telegram accounts brazenly marketed threatened and illegal tortoises in Singapore.
Checks by The Straits Times found that posts by the now-defunct tortoiseshop.sg TikTok account began in the first week of June.
It shared photos and videos of various reptiles, describing them as having “complete anatomy”, as well as giving their dimensions, with the posts primed for local users. This included tagging the listings at Marina Bay Sands and using the hashtag #Singapore.
Interested buyers were directed to a Telegram group to arrange islandwide delivery for animals priced at up to S$1,500 for an Aldabra giant tortoise, a species native to the Seychelles that can live for more than a century.
The Telegram account linked to the shop told potential buyers that the tortoises would be dispatched from Malaysia, noting that delivery would occur only after payment was processed.
Receipts shared by the administrator implied successful purchases, with the latest transaction having taken place on July 4, it claimed.
At least six species of tortoises were peddled, all of which are illegal to keep as pets in Singapore. Most of those advertised on TikTok were sulcata tortoises, an endangered species native to Africa.
The only reptiles allowed as pets in Singapore are the red-eared slider and Malayan box turtle.
Notably, the inventory included at least six Indian star tortoises. The most recent Indian star tortoise was marketed on July 5 for $450 and advertised for its “amazing patterns”, “bold contrast” and “premium look, perfect for exotic tortoise collectors”.
The Indian star tortoise is banned from commercial international trade under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international agreement to which Singapore is a party and is designed to ensure that wildlife species are not driven to extinction by international trade.
Those found guilty of illegally importing such species into Singapore can face severe penalties, including fines of up to $100,000 per specimen and a maximum prison sentence of six years.
Under the Wildlife Act, those who offer for sale, sell or export any wildlife, including non-CITES species, can be fined up to $50,000 and jailed up to two years.
By July 2, the illicit posts had reached a modest audience, garnering over 7,100 views and 110 likes on TikTok, while the associated Telegram group had accumulated roughly 500 members. ST reported the shop to the National Parks Board (NParks) that day, and to TikTok on July 8.
The TikTok account and its associated accounts were removed on July 8. ST understands that TikTok removed the account for violating the platform’s policy, which prohibits the trading, marketing or provision of access to live animals.
The platform does not allow the promotion, sale, solicitation or facilitation of access to animals, including pets and livestock.
Anna Wong, NParks’ senior director of wildlife trade, confirmed on July 8 that the agency was aware of the TikTok account promoting smuggled tortoises and said that investigations are ongoing.
“NParks monitors online marketplaces and engages social media platforms, in partnership with organisations such as World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, to detect, flag and act against illegal wildlife trade in Singapore,” she said.
NParks has conducted islandwide operations at more than six premises targeting people who had advertised various wildlife species for sale on social media platforms like Telegram. These resulted in more than 16 wildlife specimens being seized in 2024 and 2025.
Wildlife experts warned that the illicit trade exacts a heavy toll on animal welfare, public health and global conservation efforts.
Smuggled animals are frequently transported in cramped, poorly ventilated conditions, said Wong. In some cases, they are heavily sedated to minimise noise and movement to evade the authorities.
“Illegal wildlife trade poses serious risks to animal welfare and public health as smuggled animals may carry diseases that can infect other animals and humans,” Wong explained. “As a result (of poor conditions during transit), many of these animals suffer from injuries, poor health, and occasionally die.”
NParks urged the public to adopt pets from recognised animal welfare groups or buy them exclusively from licensed pet shops, and to actively avoid unlicensed sources on social media.
“Everyone has a role to play – pet owners, businesses and the public must not contribute to the demand for illegally imported animals,” Wong added.
Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, chief executive of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), noted that tortoises have always been popular in the illegal trade as they are often viewed as cute novelty items and mistakenly believed to be low-maintenance.
In reality, tortoises require specialised care and can grow to unmanageable sizes, leading overwhelmed owners to release them illegally. For instance, ACRES had previously rescued a sulcata tortoise – the species featured in most of the recent online advertisements detected by ST – that currently weighs 50kg.
ACRES had also rescued a wide variety of species from the illegal trade, including Indian star and red-footed tortoises that were also marketed on social media accounts.
“Unfortunately, many would need long-term care unless they can be repatriated. So we need to also consider our capacity,” said Kalaivanan. “Our ultimate goal in any case is to repatriate them.”
The illegal demand for reptiles has come at the cost of some species’ wild populations, said Kalaivanan.
He noted that wild reptiles are often poached in large numbers to maximise profits, many of which die during the smuggling process. Such trade has pushed species like the radiated tortoise to the brink of extinction in the wild.
“Even if buyers think they can take good care of the animals, their need for a unique pet might be driving the illegal wildlife trade,” Kalaivanan warned.
“This industry is also often linked to other vices like the drug trade.”
Anyone with information on suspected poaching, smuggling or illegal wildlife trade can contact NParks via the Animal and Veterinary Service website or call the 24-hour Animal Response Centre on 1800-476-1600. - The Straits Times/ANN
