Facebook user Linda Leong was walking along Tras Street in Tanjong Pagar when she saw a display aquarium at a dental clinic with three blacktip reef sharks and a spotted moray eel inside.

You can see from the photo below that the clinic's storefront faces the 100am mall

The clinic's name, according to its signboard, is Braces and Implant Dental Centre. Its address isn't clearly specified anywhere online, but it appears to have only opened recently, and was described to be "powered" by a Japanese healthcare company called Nihon Dental Center:

This, in turn, describes itself as the Japanese division of a business called Asia Healthcare Dental Centre — both of which are listed at the same address in Wisma Atria's office tower.

Oddly enough, however, the clinic in Tanjong Pagar is not listed on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's Singapore business listings.

Anyway, Leong uploaded the following video to Facebook, asking if sharks and eels are allowed as pets in Singapore.

Someone else also noticed this sign, right beside the tank:

Is it legal to keep sharks and eels in Singapore?

A spokesperson from the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told Mothership that the moray eel and blacktip reef sharks are allowed to be kept as pets in Singapore.

Both animals do not appear on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement that ensures international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

However, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (IUCN Red List), blacktip reef sharks are considered "near threatened".  

While these animals are allowed here and as pets, it goes without saying that caring for such animals require more attention then regular pets like cats or rabbits.

Pet moray eels, for example, need sheltered areas big enough to hide its entire bodies in order to feel secure.

Meanwhile, blacktip reef sharks can grow up to 2.1 metres in length, and would therefore require a tank sizeably larger than, well, the one at the clinic.

Conservationists respond

The Facebook post garnered the attention of marine animal lovers, including conservation photographer and founder of Asian Geographic Magazine Michael Aw, who called for a petition on Dec. 29, 2017, rallying fellow wildlife activists and conservationists to urge the clinic to release the sharks.

"Everyone; I am drafting a petition letter to the dentist; also hope to secure a solution for the 3 sharks and moray eel. Will update soon. The appointment is set for 2pm 4 Jan. Happy New Year everyone"

Aw claimed to have sent the email on Jan. 4, however, to no avail.

"Hello everyone; proposal for release email to the doctor. Now we wait. :)"

"12 noon Sydney time; 9am Singapore time; still no reply from the dentist. I have just resent mail of yesterday."

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Bruised snouts

On Jan. 4, Aw also updated his Facebook account with images of the sharks with bruised snouts, adding that they were also showing signs of stress:

Here's his post:

Dentist responds

After one of the dentists, Sebrina Abdul Malik, was identified, Facebook users left messages all over her timeline:

"Hello there and Happy New Year. Please allow these sharks to be professionally released back into the wild and start 2018 off on the right fin :). Thank you."

"Dear Sebrina - you are beautiful and look very kind. You can help release the sharks. They grow up to 1.6m in the wild... Can you imagine yourself living in a toilet for the rest of your life... Thank you for consideration."

She said on Friday in a reply to one of the posts that she only works at the clinic and has no decision-making power over the pets the clinic chooses to keep or display:

"Dear Joshua Tan, Thank you for your concern. I understand your opinion however I am just a practising dentist in this clinic as this clinic do not belong to me, therefore it is beyond my control. Please direct your concern to this email [email protected] to the management team who will be able to answer your concerns and queries. Just for your information, the sharks are profesionally well cared for on a regular basis and the management is in constant liaison with the local authority (AVA). Hope this helps direct your concerns and have a great day."

A day after that, however, she posted a follow-up comment that she will propose a solution to the owner and hopes that "everything will end well".

"Dear All, I appreciate all of your concern and have taken them into consideration. I will propose this to the owner and hopefully everything will end well. Our patients needs are our top priority and so is the sharks. No worries."

Sharks to be removed

On Saturday, Jan. 6, Sebrina then posted the following statement to her page:

However, it is unclear where the sharks will go to next, as seen from this exchange between one Debra Teng and Sebrina.

"Thank you for the update Dr Sebrina. We really appreciate your help in this matter. Please know that we are available to help with the safer release of the sharks into their natural environment, if you need any help. Wishing you well and have a great 2018 ahead."

"Thank you for the offer however the owner can manage on his own with the professionals."

Speaking to Mothership, AVA's spokesperson also said animal owners have to "understand the care and responsibility that comes with owning" an animal — whether it is a dog or a moray eel, or a blacktip reef shark:

"AVA investigates all feedback on animal welfare and will take enforcement action, where necessary. Existing and potential animal owners need to be aware that owning an animal is a lifelong commitment, and understand the care and responsibility that comes with owning one. Members of the public can find out more about responsible ownership through our website."

Top image via Michael Aw's Facebook page and screenshot from Linda Leong's Facebook page