A critically endangered Sunda pangolin was rescued from inside a washing machine near Bukit Batok on May 25 by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) [1, 2, 3]. The pangolin was uninjured but stressed after the rescue, ACRES chief executive Kalaivanan Balakrishnan said. He added, "The pangolin did not sustain any injuries but was stressed after the rescue ordeal" [1].
The animal likely came from a nearby nature reserve adjacent to Bukit Batok, though exact release details have been withheld for the pangolin’s protection, given its critical conservation status [1, 2, 3]. ACRES advised the resident not to turn on the washing machine before their wildlife rescue team arrived [1, 2, 3].
The rescue took 20 to 40 minutes because Sunda pangolins tightly grip surfaces, complicating removal [1, 2, 3]. Balakrishnan explained that Sunda pangolins, "like other wild animals such as monitor lizards, snakes and even civets, have been known to squeeze into tiny gaps and crevices to escape or hide" [1]. This was ACRES’ first rescue of a Sunda pangolin from a washing machine, though they have handled other animals trapped in appliances before [1, 2, 3].
Sunda pangolins in Singapore face threats mainly from vehicle collisions and habitat loss due to development [1, 2, 3]. The Singapore Pangolin Working Group formed in 2014 to coordinate conservation efforts and monitor pangolin populations [1, 2, 3]. In 2023, two men were arrested in Singapore for illegally selling a pregnant pangolin via Telegram, with offenders facing fines up to $50,000 and/or a maximum of 2 years in jail [1, 2, 3].
Balakrishnan emphasized caution, saying, "We do not want people to go and specifically look for these animals. As the Sunda pangolin is a critically endangered species, (such information) is even more sensitive" [1]. After recovery, the rescued pangolin will be released back into the wild [1, 2, 3].
