A long post, but bear with me. Taken from an email I received from local birder Ashley.
They still need volunteers to help distribute educational flyers etc. so if you're available to drop some leaflets around your neighbourhood, give me a beep.
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Dear all,
Every year i have heart-rendering cries of animals releasing into our wild / parks
& most of them that i had encountered are usually dead or in bad state of dying
and suffering in our country.
Therefore now, I would like some help from everyone out there to lend me some support
towards this small act of public education on this coming Vesak Day.
I would like to form a group of volunteers on this special occasion
to be stationed at a few designated or popular spots for animals releasing
(such as Bishan Park, MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Pierce Reservoirs, Seletar Reservoirs
& many other known locations).
We hope to advise the public of not releasing animals into the wild
by telling them the effects & offence of such act.
Please please reply me if you're interested to know more about this programme.
I would be conducting a briefing for those who are keen to participate in this project soon.
At the same, I will contact the NParks about this project & hope to get more
support from them soon.
Please forward this to your friends.
Many thanks.
Regards,
Ashley
~~
The following was taken from a joint publication by Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple
& Nature Society (S'pore) on Zhaobao paper last year.
"In Singapore, it is a common practice to release animals, especially during Vesak Day.
It is highly commendable to feel compassion for other living things;
however, releasing animals may not be the best way of helping them.
Let us first think carefully about the following points:-
1. Releasing No-Native Animals
These foreign animals might not survive in our country and may introduce foreign diseases,
which can infect local animals that have no immunity against such diseases.
Some of these introduced animals can thrive in our country because they are from other
tropical countries with similar climate and habitats. These foreign animals compete
with our natives species for food, shelter, nesting areas and limited habitat.
They may also prey on the young of local species.
For example, the Red-eared Slider (a freshwater turtle) from North America is
a common pet animal. It is often released into our parks, rivers and reservoirs.
This species is larger, more aggressive and adaptable and therefore can cause
the decrease of our native Asian Box Turtle found in Singapore's few remaining
wetland areas.
The mass release of animals in large numbers will affect our environment
in a negative way. For example the common Rock Pigeon, which may cause
hygiene problems. The releasing of large numbers of animals will also upset
the natural balance, as the area of release will not be able to cope with the
sudden increase of animals.
2. To release or Not to release?
In Singapore, it is an OFFENCE to release any animals into our public parks,
reservoirs, nature reserves and many other places.
Genuine animal liberation is done with wisdom and compassion.
Based on the above findings, we should first ask ourselves the
following questions when we think of releasing animals:-
a. Will the animal really benefit from being released?
b. Are we no longer responsible from the animal once it is released?
c. Will our act if releasing an animal ensure its well-being,
or are we simply performing a superficial act with no thought of the actual,
negative consequences?
d. Would the money spent to buy animals for releasing be better used
for other compassionate purposes.
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