A Facebook video showing a myna with a taped-up beak and restrained wings has been reported to the National Parks Board (NParks), in an incident one man has described as \u201cdistressing\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Facebook post was brought to Stomper Harvey<\/strong>\u2019s attention on Sept 29 by his wife, who had come across it on her Facebook timeline.<\/p>\n In the post, a man shared: \u201c… this bold little Myna<\/a> thought it could invade our kitchen like it owned the place\u2026 strutting in, eyeing our wok like Gordon Ramsay<\/a> on a mission.\u201d<\/p>\n According to him, the \u201cLady Boss of the House\u201d \u2014 believed to be the poster\u2019s wife \u2014 got its wings \u201cgently clipped\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe bird didn\u2019t just get caught\u2026 it got a full-on TED Talk lecture about manners, respect, and why you don\u2019t mess with someone\u2019s homecook meal,\u201d wrote the post.<\/p>\n An accompanying video shows a myna with its beak taped shut with what looks like masking tape. Its legs and wings also appear to be restrained.<\/p>\n The wide-eyed bird struggles and screeches in a plastic bag as a hand reaches down to poke and prod at it, while a female voice in the background tells the bird off for being \u201cnaughty\u201d for attempting to steal food as she was cooking.<\/p>\n \u201cYou steal my food and you still dare to bite me,\u201d she says in one video.<\/p>\n \u201cI hit you…,\u201d she says in another video where the myna appears defeated. \u201cMake noise lor, see how you can move when you\u2019re taped up,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n In another video, a woman can be heard saying that she had secured the bird in a box and was waiting for a family member to return so that they could set it free.<\/p>\n \u201cI put it inside, but it wants to escape,\u201d she says. As the bird pokes its beak out of a hole in the lid, she asks if it wants to drink water.<\/p>\n In a screenshot of what appears to be a family group chat, one member of the group wrote: \u201cWhoever did this… committed animal abuse offence.\u201d<\/p>\n Another suggested letting the bird go.<\/p>\n Someone identified as \u201cdaughter\u201d explained that the bird had entered the home, left its droppings \u201ceverywhere\u201d, and eaten food from their pot.<\/p>\n One member of the group had written: \u201cWhoever did this… committed animal abuse offence.\u201d<\/p>\n PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \u201cNot to worry la… after the lesson, it was released back into the wild<\/a>, free as ever; but definitely with a new PhD in \u2018Kitchen Etiquette 101\u2019,\u201d the post read.<\/p>\n Another video shows the bird being released from a box with many holes cut out of the lid. \u201cGood grief,\u201d exclaimed a voice in the background.<\/p>\n Harvey described the videos as \u201cdistressing\u201d. He added: \u201cCannot imagine how much worse it was for the myna. Looks like the nostrils were also covered by the tape.\u201d<\/p>\n The Stomper was upset and angry that the original poster had passed off animal cruelty<\/a> as \u201cacceptable and light-hearted\u201d.<\/p>\n He subsequently reported the video to NParks.<\/p>\n The post said the bird had been \u201clectured\u201d and subsequently set free.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM FACEBOOK<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n In response to Stomp\u2019s queries, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES)\u00a0chief executive Kalaivanan Balakrishnan said on Oct 1 that the organisation is \u201cdeeply disturbed\u201d by the video, which it understands has been reported to NParks.<\/p>\n The ACRES chief stressed that such cruelty cannot be justified. \u201cA bird entering someone\u2019s home does not deserve to be forcibly restrained, taped up and mistreated.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe urge a thorough investigation and, if an offence is established, a penalty that reflects the seriousness of the act and serves as a strong deterrent,\u201d said Kalai.<\/p>\n Singapore\u2019s Animals and Birds Act<\/a> provides for offences involving cruelty to animals, including acts that cause unnecessary pain or suffering. ACRES believes protections must be upheld, regardless of whether the animal is a beloved pet or a common wild bird<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a myna does not make their suffering any less real, nor should it make cruelty any less serious.<\/p>\n \u201cNo animal should be considered undeserving of protection simply because it is common or perceived as a nuisance,\u201d said Kalai.<\/p>\n Stomp has reached out to the original poster and NParks for comment.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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ACRES chief \u2018deeply disturbed\u2019, urges thorough investigation<\/h2>\n
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