VIDEOS, PICTURES

New sanctuary for rescued wildlife opens in Lim Chu Kang

Acres head of Animal Care Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, 27, and his children, Tharini (centre) and Tharun, release a tortoise into a new enclosure at the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre, on Thursday, Nov 14, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
Acres head of Animal Care Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, 27, and his children, Tharini (centre) and Tharun, release a tortoise into a new enclosure at the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre, on Thursday, Nov 14, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee (left) and Acres Executive Director Louis Ng releasing tortoises into a new enclosure at the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre, on Thursday, Nov 13, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) head of Animal Care Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, 27, releasing Kanmani, an iguana, into it's new enclosure at the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre, on Thursday, Nov 14, 2013. Acres unveiled a new sanctuary area built by more than 100 volunteers at its Wildlife Rescue Centre in Jalan Lekar, on Thursday, Nov 14, 2013.-- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) unveiled on Thursday morning a new sanctuary area built by more than 100 volunteers at its Wildlife Rescue Centre in Jalan Lekar.

The 300sq m area was officially opened by Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee, who also helped Acres volunteers release some 46 animals into the sanctuary at the event. These animals, including Indian star tortoises, green iguanas and Giant Asian pond turtles, were let in their new enclosures after being treated for injuries sustained due to abandonment or harsh conditions in wild life trade.

Giant Asian pond turtle Boltz, for example, was found in November 2011 with multiple fractures to his shell after being run over by a truck in Yishun. After slightly more than a year of critical care, it has recovered and can now spend time in its new outdoor enclosure.

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