Release of animals poses risk
Ancient Buddhist ritual of slipping creatures into waterways could cause eco-disaster
A more practical but definitely more difficult practice is to practise kindness in speech, thought and action.
Tony Fernando, Buddhist (left)
ABuddhist practice of “saving lives” can cause an ecological catastrophe in New Zealand, an environmental expert says. Auckland Buddhists have been releasing live animals, including turtles at Western Springs, as part of an ancient ritual called “fang sheng” or mercy release.
But Dr Imogen Bassett, Auckland Council’s biosecurity principal adviser, said the red-eared slider turtles were one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species, and could wreak havoc on the ecosystems.
Buddhists the Herald spoke to said they had also been releasing into rivers and the sea eels and fish bought from restaurants and fish markets that were due to be slaughtered.
“While well intentioned, releasing captive animals into the wild is often not in the released animals’ best interest and it can also harm our natural environment,” Bassett said. “Released animals may not be able to find sufficient food, shelter or adapt to the environment around them, leading to animal welfare problems.”
Releasing captive animals into the wild was also against the law in most cases.
There are fears that the number of animals being released could rise in the lead-up to Chinese New Year on February 5 this year.
“Animals such as turtles or koi carp that are not native to New Zealand can have a devastating impact on our native species and put an additional stress on our already fragile freshwater ecosystems,” Bassett said.
Western Springs’ spring-fed lake is home to native eels and plants, and also birds such as the New Zealand scaup, pied shag, paradise shellduck and black swans. Recently, the park has become a dumping ground for unwanted pets, with rabbits and roosters abandoned there.
A Buddhist practitioner, who did not want to be named, says she bought pet turtles on Trade Me for $40-$100 to set free at the lake. Turtles symbolised long life in Chinese cosmology and would earn her better karma.
Hayley Young, another believer, buys blue cod destined for the dinner table at restaurants and releases them at the Wynyard Quarter waterfront. Young, who attends Fo Guang Shan Temple in Manukau, recites a Buddhist chant before release.
“We release these captive animals because as Buddhists, we respect all life, including animal life,” Young said.
“After a fish is released, even if they die, they die in their natural home. They have been liberated and I believe this way they come back in a better position in their next life.”
A Ministry for Primary Industries spokeswoman said it wasn’t against the law to release fish caught in New Zealand waters back into the ocean. However, the bottom-dwelling blue cod found in restaurants were more likely to have been caught in the colder waters in the Cook Strait and the Chatham Islands and not the Hauraki Gulf.
The owner of Seafood Paradise Restaurant, where Young paid $150 for two live blue cod, could not say where they were originally caught.
Releasing turtles, which are not native to New Zealand, is illegal, according to the ministry spokeswoman.
The Department of Conservation said the release of any animals could have unintentional impacts on native wildlife and that people should stop doing so — even if it was for religious purposes.
The authorities urged people wanting to release captive animals into the wild to instead join a threatened species conservation group such as Kiwis for Kiwis.
These organisations protect native species through captive rearing and reintroduction programmes.
University of Auckland senior medical lecturer Tony Fernando, a devout Buddhist, said there were other ways for Buddhists to earn karma points.
“The freeing of animals is a noble tradition of compassion in action,” Fernando said.
“But a more practical but definitely more difficult practice is to practise kindness in speech, thought and action consciously, on a daily basis, not just to animals, but also to family, colleagues, friends and strangers.”
Buddhism is the third largest religion in New Zealand after Christianity and Hinduism.