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Letter from Acres in The New Paper, September 20, 2007  
Don't forget small guys in need

I REFER to the report, 'Why is S'pore zoo getting charity money?' (The New Paper, 12 Sep).

With revenues from admissions alone totalling $33.4 million in 2006/7 for Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which runs the zoo and Jurong BirdPark, the zoo's conservation and research work can and should be funded through the annual profits.

If individuals and corporations focused on supporting smaller groups, and not the bigger ones which have bigger reserves, more smaller groups would be able to thrive and succeed.

Acres is in the process of opening Singapore's first wildlife rescue centre to provide a sanctuary for the countless wild animals who are illegally smuggled into Singapore each year.

So far, through the generosity of Singaporeans, we have raised over $600,000 to build the rescue centre, but we also seek the remaining $400,000 necessary to cover its first-year operation costs.

Unlike the zoo, Acres cannot afford to invest money into fundraising and we rely solely on the work of volunteers. It is time corporate Singapore gave the little guys a chance.

Louis Ng
Executive director
Acres (Animal Concerns, Research and Education Society)
  ©Joseph Lai 2003