Animal Control Guys May Be Punished by Singapore for Excessive Force in Retic Removal

[Ax01]

what happens when urbanization clashes w/ the animal kingdom? well u might sometimes find an inner-city wild animal. in the PacNW, we get alotta coyotes and the occasional black bear sighting and capture in our Seattle streets. if u are in Singapore, u might get a street Reticulated Python.

so earlier today in Singapore time, an animal/pest control squad was dispatched to remove a 9-10ft Retic from downtown. the big snake did not go down w/o a fight! looks like the 4-5 guys had 1 trash/litter picker-upper, no snake hook, a small pillowcase and at least they had gloves. thank goodness for 1 guy they had gloves b/c it looks like he took a hard bite.

anyways this incident is becoming more newsworthy now b/c there was video of the snake removal and it seems a Singapore gov agency is investigating it for excessive force! one of the guys, the one that was bit, stepped on the Retic as they wrestled it for control. maybe others did as well. vids are in the newslink below. in the second vid: i see the guy get bit around 25seconds, he steps on the Retic twice around 30seconds, 4-5 guys wrestles the Retic as it begins to coil, the glove of the guy that was bit is removed from the Retic's jaws at 1:33seconds, i think there's blood on the ground. not sure if it's from the guy or the snake, but u could see him squatting in the background, wincing in pain.

was this excessive force? were these guys competent? should these guys be punished? does the Retic deserve justice?




story and vids here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...dling-11181198

AVA investigating alleged mishandling of snake at Tang Plaza

SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said on Tuesday night (Jan 29)
that it was investigating the alleged mishandling of a snake at Tang Plaza.

Photos and videos of the python lurking outside the building along busy Orchard Road were circulated on
social media earlier that day.

In footage uploaded by Facebook user Tess Fernando, the python, which looked to be about 3m long, was
partially coiled up behind a recycling bin.

Another video put up by user Rabbikhan Khan showed four men attempting to capture the python.

In the two-minute video, the python was seen biting the hand of one of the men, which appeared gloved.
The man, who was wearing a shirt bearing the word "Anticimex", later stepped on the python as it
struggled.

AVA said the python was removed and handed to Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

"Cruelty to animals is an oence under the Animals and Birds Act. AVA has issued a set of guidelines on
the proper handling of snakes to all pest control and wildlife management agencies in Singapore," the
authority said.

"For example, snakes should not be unduly harmed by the persons handling it and appropriate equipment
should be used to catch them.

"AVA investigates all feedback relating to animal cruelty and will not hesitate to take enforcement action
against oenders," it added.

The authority also advised members of the public not to approach, disturb, feed or try to catch wildlife,
including snakes. They should keep a safe distance from them and ensure that children and pets are also
kept away, it said.

[Skyrivers]

Did not see a video on the page about the retic?

what happens when urbanization clashes w/ the animal kingdom? well u might sometimes find an inner-city wild animal. in the PacNW, we get alotta coyotes and the occasional black bear sighting and capture in our Seattle streets. if u are in Singapore, u might get a street Reticulated Python.

so earlier today in Singapore time, an animal/pest control squad was dispatched to remove a 9-10ft Retic from downtown. the big snake did not go down w/o a fight! looks like the 4-5 guys had 1 trash/litter picker-upper, no snake hook, a small pillowcase and at least they had gloves. thank goodness for 1 guy they had gloves b/c it looks like he took a hard bite.

anyways this incident is becoming more newsworthy now b/c there was video of the snake removal and it seems a Singapore gov agency is investigating it for excessive force! one of the guys, the one that was bit, stepped on the Retic as they wrestled it for control. maybe others did as well. vids are in the newslink below. in the second vid: i see the guy get bit around 25seconds, he steps on the Retic twice around 30seconds, 4-5 guys wrestles the Retic as it begins to coil, the glove of the guy that was bit is removed from the Retic's jaws at 1:33seconds, i think there's blood on the ground. not sure if it's from the guy or the snake, but u could see him squatting in the background, wincing in pain.

was this excessive force? were these guys competent? should these guys be punished? does the Retic deserve justice?




story and vids here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...dling-11181198

[Ax01]

story and vids here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...dling-11181198

Did not see a video on the page about the retic?

the vids are embedded in the story. it might take a bit to load or try switching web browsers.




Edit: also here are direct FB links to the vid uploaders...

vid 1: https://www.facebook.com/ernestrey/v...6304989071446/

vid 2: https://www.facebook.com/jrrabbi.kha...30971880362195 (this is the one where the struggle and capture ensues.)

[Ax01]

here's a f/u story w/ the gov agency decision on the situation: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/pest-contr...071829034.html

Pest control firm behind Tang Plaza python extrication cleared of any animal mishandling by AVA

Following investigations carried out by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) the pest control team that wrangled with a colossal python along a busy Orchard Road stretch have not been found guilty of animal abuse.

The personnel of Anticimex Pest Management Pte Ltd had been criticized by animal experts last month for the way it handled the extrication of a reticulated python outside Tang Plaza. The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) particularly took issue with how the Anticimex team used “excessive force” and stepped on the python during the process. It got to a point that one of the pest controllers got bitten by the snake, leaving a tooth in his arm (don’t worry, surgery removed it).

“Mishandling will endanger public safety, the safety of the workers handling the animals and also compromise animal welfare,” stated ACRES about the incident.

‘Acted in good faith’
The AVA then got involved and launched an investigation into a case of animal mishandling. Yesterday, Anticimex gladly reported that the company has been cleared of any wrong — AVA found their efforts justifiable.

“Our investigation revealed as there was an immediate risk to public safety where the python was found at a location with high human traffic, your staff had to remove the snake as promptly and practicably as possible,” AVA noted in a statement to Anticimex.

AVA also stated that the “necessary force” was warranted, given that a worker, Farhan, was bitten.

“…it was unfortunate that one of your staff, Mr. Farhan, was bitten in the process. Hence, he had to resort to using necessary force to restrain the python. Mr. Farhan had acted in good faith to prevent further harm and injuries to himself as well as the public who were in close proximity.”

From the start, Anticimex chief executive Tony Hurst stood behind the actions of his employees amidst criticisms thrown at them.

“The situation called for quick, reactive instinct and action under a highly volatile and unpredictable situation,” Hurts noted about the incident.

“When the snake attempted to evade containment, not restraining the reptile by any means available could have had disastrous consequences in this busy and populated area. The importance of protecting the human public will always supersede other considerations.”

In response to AVA’s findings, the pest control firm essentially said: “haters be damned”.

“Our team at Anticimex will continue to remain focused on our daily business, working with the experts within our field and avoiding distractions of commentary from spectators.”

[Bogertophis]

Presumably, the retic had "no comment" but they should at least have attempted an interview. (seriously, I hope the snake wasn't injured)