Endangered pig-tailed macaque rehomed in Malaysia

An endangered pig-tailed macaque found chained in a cage at a car workshop has been rehomed in Malaysia.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), rescued the macaque from the workshop at Defu Lane on May 6, 2015 following a tip-off from the Animals Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES).

The macaque, found chained in a cage, was subsequently referred to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) for proper care and custody and it was later established that the owner of the workshop had kept the macaque as a pet after it was abandoned at his workshop.

He was fined S$500 (RM1,500) for keeping the macaque in his possession.

In a joint statement, AVA, ACRES and WRS said they worked together with the Malaysian wildlife authorities to rehome the confiscated pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) in Malaysia.

On Sunday, the macaque was transported from the Singapore Zoo to the Johor Department of Wildlife and National Parks where it is being rehabilitated and quarantined at a Wildlife Rescue Centre before being assessed on its suitability to be released to its natural habitat.

All macaques are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is an international agreement to ensure that trade does not threaten wildlife species with extinction.