We, the undersigned concerned residents of Singapore, formally appeal to the Government of Singapore to institute a phased-in, comprehensive ban on the importation, sale, and use of rodent glue traps.

The continued legality of these devices is a stain on our nation's reputation as a progressive, compassionate, and innovative society. Glue traps are an archaic, exceptionally cruel, and ultimately ineffective method of pest control that stands in direct contradiction to our national "City in Nature" vision.

1. Glue Traps are Instruments of Torture, Not Control

Glue traps are condemned by animal welfare organisations worldwide, including the SPCA Singapore, as one of the cruelest methods of killing animals in existence. Unlike traps designed for a quick kill, glue boards condemn animals to a slow and agonizing death that can last for days.
• Prolonged Suffering: Trapped animals die from a horrific combination of dehydration, starvation, exhaustion, and suffocation when their faces become stuck in the adhesive.
• Agonising Injuries: In their desperate struggle to escape, animals rip off their own skin and fur, break bones, and have even been known to chew off their own limbs.

This level of suffering is indefensible in a modern society that understands and values animal welfare.

2. Glue Traps Indiscriminately Kill Our Precious Wildlife and Pets

A fundamental flaw of glue traps is that they are completely indiscriminate. While intended for rodents, they ensnare any small animal that comes into contact with them. This is not a hypothetical risk; it is a documented tragedy in Singapore.
• Devastating Local Impact: Data from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) shows that between 2014 and 2023, nearly 2,000 wild animals were rescued from glue traps. The actual number of victims is undoubtedly far higher.
• Protected Species are Victims: Most alarmingly, a quarter of these animals were protected species under Singaporean law, including kingfishers, civets, owls, bats, and tree shrews.
• Pets are Not Spared: Community cats and other domestic pets are also frequent, unintended victims, suffering horrific injuries and death.

The use of these traps actively undermines our national goal of conserving biodiversity under the "City in Nature" initiative. We cannot claim to be a City in Nature while simultaneously permitting the torturous killing of our native wildlife. 

3. Glue Traps are a Public Health Hazard and Ineffective

Beyond the immense cruelty, glue traps are a flawed tool that fails to provide long-term pest control and creates unnecessary public health risks.
• A Public Health Risk: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against using glue traps. A trapped, terrified animal continues to urinate and defecate, turning the trap into a concentrated biohazard and increasing human exposure to diseases like Leptospirosis and Hantavirus.
• An Ineffective Solution: Trapping a few rodents does nothing to address the root causes of an infestation (access to food and shelter). It merely creates a "vacant habitat" that is quickly filled by new animals, perpetuating an endless and ineffective cycle of killing.

4. The Government's Guideline-Based Approach is Insufficient and Has Failed

The issue of glue trap cruelty has been raised in Parliament by multiple Members of Parliament, including Ms Hazel Poa in April 2022 and Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang in May 2024. The government's consistent response has been to advocate for the "responsible and safe" use of glue traps, relying on guidelines issued to professional Pest Control Operators (PCOs).

This approach has failed for two critical, data-supported reasons:

A Massive Regulatory Gap: The guidelines apply only to professional PCOs. However, a 2023 ACRES survey revealed that only 26% of residents hire PCOs for rodent problems. This means the current regulatory framework completely fails to address the behaviour of the vast majority (74%) of users—the general public—who can purchase and deploy these traps without any training, oversight, or accountability.

A Demonstrable Compliance Failure: The updated guidelines for PCOs, issued in May 2024, are already proving ineffective at preventing harm. In June 2024 alone, ACRES documented 28 non-target animals caught in glue traps. Crucially, 25% of these cases involved traps laid by PCOs, and 20% of all traps were found in open areas, in direct violation of the new guidelines. This was not an isolated incident. The tragedy repeated itself in October 2024, with another 28 animals found suffering on glue traps.

The official argument for "responsible use" is invalidated by clear evidence. A system of non-binding guidelines that covers only a minority of users and is not consistently followed is an inadequate and failed solution to a problem of this magnitude.

5. Singapore is Falling Behind Global Best Practices

A powerful international consensus is forming against these cruel devices. By continuing to allow them, Singapore is falling out of step with the legislative standards of many other developed nations that have already acted to ban or severely regulate the sale and use of glue traps on animal welfare grounds. This list includes:

• England: The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 banned the use of glue traps by the public. Licensed professionals may only use them in exceptional circumstances where all alternatives have failed.
• Scotland: Banned the use of glue traps in 2024.
• Wales: Banned all use of glue traps in October 2023.
• Ireland: Banned under the Wildlife Act, 1976, with no authorisations granted for their use.
• New Zealand: Outlawed the purchase and use of glue traps by the public since 2015.
• Iceland: Banned in 2021, with the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority citing the country's animal welfare law that forbids methods causing unnecessary entrapment or pain.
• India: 32 states and union territories have banned glue traps.

Our Call to Action: A Phased Pathway to a Humane Singapore

We urge the government to adopt a pragmatic, phased approach to prohibition:

• Phase 1 (Immediate): Ban the retail sale of all rodent glue traps to the general public to stop the most uncontrolled and indiscriminate use.
• Phase 2 (Within 12 Months): Convert the May 2024 NParks/NEA guidelines for professional pest control operators into mandatory, legally-binding regulations with clear enforcement penalties.
• Phase 3 (Within 2-3 Years): Institute a complete prohibition on the importation, sale, and use of all rodent glue traps, bringing Singapore in line with global leaders in animal welfare.

By taking these steps, we can foster a nationwide shift towards Integrated Pest Management (IPM)—a smarter, prevention-first strategy—and promote the use of superior humane alternatives. Modern, effective, and readily available options include high-welfare snap traps that ensure an instantaneous kill, and enclosed electronic traps that are safe for use around pets and children. Adopting these technologies will create a pest management framework that is not only more compassionate but also more intelligent and effective.

Let us work together to build a more compassionate and intelligent Singapore. A true "City in Nature" does not tolerate such cruelty. Please sign this petition and urge our government to ban glue traps now.