SINGAPORE – The Republic in 2024 approved the import of a taxidermied specimen of a wild polar bear from Greenland for personal reasons, The Straits Times has learnt.

It was one of the more unusual wildlife items imported into the country for personal reasons that year, according to ST checks on data published by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The last time a wild polar bear was imported into Singapore for personal reasons was in 2012, according to the CITES trade data.

Other items imported into Singapore for personal reasons that year include some live cacti and their seeds, bones of the endangered winghead shark and garments from wild vicuna, which was once considered endangered.

Native to South America, vicunas are the smallest members of the camel family and are a relative of llamas and alpacas.

Vicunas’ wool is considered one of the most expensive and is highly sought after in the fashion industry, while shark bones are used to make decorative items.

CITES is an agreement between governments that aims to ensure wildlife species are not threatened with extinction due to international trade.

The convention regulates the international trade of CITES-listed live animals and plants, including their parts and products, by requiring permits to be obtained before consignments are allowed to leave or enter a country. This requirement applies to both businesses and individuals.

Singapore has been a signatory to CITES since 1986. The National Parks Board (NParks) is the national authority responsible for the implementation and enforcement of CITES for Singapore.

As part of the permitting system, those who want to import or export parts and products of wildlife species listed on CITES must indicate the purpose of doing so, such as if it is for personal reasons or for commercial, educational, medical and scientific reasons.

These records are publicly available on the CI...