A new law to prevent the trafficking of birds and wild animals, among other things, kicked in on Oct 23, 1965.

Called the Wild Animals and Birds Ordinance 1965, it was passed in the last session of the Legislative Assembly.

The law requires persons who are engaged in importing, exporting or the trans-shipment of these animals to take out licences from the Primary Production Department.

A government statement said that the new legislation would prevent and control the movement of captured wild animals and birds through Singapore, which is strategically located in South-east Asia.

"The Singapore Government has, from time to time, received requests from other governments as well as from international organisations to assist in the prevention of illegal traffic of wild animals and birds," said the statement.

It added that good examples included the orang utan and the Bird of Paradise, "which are facing extinction because of indiscriminate hunting and killing".