Dumped and Left to Die: The Heartbreaking Tale of Over 100 Abandoned Quail Chicks

More than 100 quail chicks were dumped in a green trash can in Lim Chu Kang. The Animal Care and Research Society (ACRES) was notified and went to the scene and found that some of them were dead, and the rest could not be rescued.

Animal Care Association on social media on Sunday (November 3)Post on FacebookIt said that a member of the public reported on the evening of October 27 that there were bird calls coming from a green trash can in Lim Chu Kang.

Association personnel rushed to the scene and found a black garbage bag in the trash can with a quail chick on it and more chirping sounds coming from below. In the bag, there were 106 live chicks, some dead, and many unhatched eggs.

Association personnel immediately launched rescue operations in an attempt to keep the still-breathing chick alive, but ultimately failed. “We tried our best but not a single chick survived.”

The association said it has notified the National Park Service to investigate why the chicks and unhatched eggs were abandoned in the trash.

National Park Service: Investigate rigorously and take action

In response to an inquiry from Lianhe Zaobao, National Park Service Senior Director of Law Enforcement and Investigations Guo Ruijing confirmed that the authorities had received the notification and were following up.

She said authorities take all cases involving animal cruelty seriously and investigate all leads collected. “We will take action against anyone who abandons a pet, fails to care for it properly, or mistreats an animal.”

According to previous reports, in the first nine months of this year, the Singapore Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsReceived 860 reports of animal cruelty and welfare violationsan increase of 24% compared with 690 cases in the same period last year; and an increase of 166% compared with 323 cases in the same period last year.

The Parks Bureau revealed in 2021 that it is exploring whether the strength of existing laws is sufficient to deter animal cruelty. Review work to amend the law is still ongoing.

According to the Animals and Birds Act, once convicted of failing to properly care for a pet (including abandoning a pet), a first-time offender may be fined up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both.

If found guilty of cruelty to pets or animals, first-time offenders may be fined up to NT$15,000, imprisoned for up to 18 months, or both; repeat offenders may be imprisoned for up to three years, fined NT$30,000, or both. Anyone can do both.