Don't release animals into the wild on Vesak Day

Channel NewsAsia 3 May 12;

SINGAPORE: Do not release animals into the wild this Vesak Day -- that's a reminder from the National Parks Board (NParks).

This year's Vesak Day falls on Saturday.

NParks said it is working with volunteers to carry out "Operation No Release" in the nature reserves and reservoirs this weekend.

They will keep a lookout for any case of animal release and will educate and advise members of the public on the harm of releasing animals into the wild.

NParks director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah said: "We would like to appeal to the public not to release animals into the wild as it means sending them to their deaths.

"As some of these animals are usually kept as pets, they are not likely to survive as they are not used to the surroundings and are not able to cope in the wild. If these animals carry viruses, they will also affect other native wildlife."

Meanwhile, Buddhist Fellowship president Angie Chew Monksfield said: "We should be compassionate and considerate to animals both in captivity as well as in the wild as releasing certain animals could threaten those in the wild.

"It would be more beneficial to reduce our meat intake all year round than simply releasing animals during Vesak as this could also encourage vendors to increase the supply of animals for this very purpose."

To complement efforts of the operation, NParks is partnering volunteers and students from CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace to conduct an outreach ambassador session at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on 19 May, from 9am to noon.

The session aims to educate and advise the public against releasing animals into Singapore's reserves and nature areas.

- CNA/wk

Effort to stop Vesak Day animal release
Volunteers, with NParks support, to trawl nature areas to advise against it
Siau Ming En Straits Times 4 May 12;

VOLUNTEERS will be trawling nature reserves and reservoirs this weekend to advise people against releasing captive animals into the wild.

The National Parks Board (NParks) said it will be working with volunteers in an effort to prevent the practice, which is often fatal for the creatures and can harm local wildlife.

Members of local nature group Nature Trekker Singapore, separately, will also be out and about doing the same.

Animals such as birds, fish and red-eared terrapins are usually released at reservoirs and parks as a symbolic gesture of compassion on Vesak Day, which is tomorrow.

Said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at NParks: 'We would like to appeal to the public not to release animals into the wild, as it means sending them to their deaths.'

Those that have been kept as pets will be unable to cope in the wild. If they carry viruses, they will also affect other native wildlife, said Mr Wong.

Venerable Kwang Sheng, president of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, said it is also telling its temples not to do it.

'We don't encourage the practice, as the animals are sometimes released into unsuitable grounds and they may not even survive,' he said.

NParks figures show a decline in the number of people caught trying to release animals in parks and reserves. There were 44 cases in 2004, five in 2010 and none last year.

Mr Lee Song Shun, 32, a worker at Que Feng Birds and Pets Trading Enterprises in Serangoon North, said: 'People know they can't release animals into reservoirs and parks now.'

But for those who would still like to carry out the practice, some Buddhist centres have pointed them to kelongs.

'There is a right place and right type of species to be released,' said Venerable Tenzin Gyurme, spiritual programme coordinator at the Amitabha Buddhist Centre.

He said the centre advises its devotees to go to a kelong, where caught fish are released back into the sea as a symbolic gesture.

Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre does the same.

Its abbot Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche said: 'Releasing fish from the kelongs into the sea does not affect the ecosystem since it is returning them to their natural habitats.'

Ms Angie Chew Monksfield, president of the Buddhist Fellowship, suggested going vegetarian as an alternative.

'It would be more beneficial to reduce our meat intake all year round, than simply releasing animals during Vesak Day.'

Public advised not to release animals on Vesak Day
Straits Times 3 May 12;

NParks has advised the public not to release animals into the wild. In an instance, quails, including many which had died, were found released at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve before Vesak Day. -- PHOTO: NPARKS

This Vesak Day, the public is reminded not to release animals into the wild.

The National Parks Board (NParks) is working with volunteers to carry out 'Operation No Release' in the nature reserves and reservoirs this weekend to raise awareness on the rationale behind not releasing animals.

They will be keeping a lookout for any cases of animal release and will educate and members of the public on the harm of releasing animals into the wild.

'We would like to appeal to the public not to release animals into the wild as it means sending them to their deaths', said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, Director of Conservation, NParks.

'As some of these animals are usually kept as pets, they are not likely to survive as they are not used to the surroundings and are not able to cope in the wild. If these animals carry viruses, they will also affect other native wildlife.'

To complement efforts of Operation No Release, NParks is partnering with volunteers and primary four students from CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace to conduct an Outreach Ambassador session.

This session aims to educate and advise the public against releasing animals into our reserves and nature areas.

Volunteers and students will be setting up a station at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on May 19 from 9am to 12pm.


Vesak Day reminder: Do not release animals into the wild
NParks Media Release 3 May 12;

Singapore, 3 May 2012 – The National Parks Board (NParks) would like to remind members of the public not to release animals into the wild this Vesak Day.

“We would like to appeal to the public not to release animals into the wild as it means sending them to their deaths”, says Mr Wong Tuan Wah, Director of Conservation, NParks. “As some of these animals are usually kept as pets, they are not likely to survive as they are not used to the surroundings and are not able to cope in the wild. If these animals carry viruses, they will also affect other native wildlife.”

Operation No Release

To raise public awareness on the rationale of not releasing animals into the wild, NParks is working with volunteers to carry out "Operation No Release‟ in the nature reserves and reservoirs this weekend. They will be keeping a lookout for any case of animal release and will also educate and advise members of the public on the harm of releasing animals into the wild.

“We should be compassionate and considerate to animals both in captivity as well as in the wild as releasing certain animals could threaten those in the wild. It would be more beneficial to reduce our meat intake all year round than simply releasing animals during Vesak as this could also encourage vendors to increase the supply of animals for this very purpose”, says Angie Chew Monksfield, President, Buddhist Fellowship.

Outreach Ambassadors

To complement efforts of the "Operation No Release‟, NParks is partnering with volunteers and Primary Four students from CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace to conduct an Outreach Ambassador session. This session aims to educate and advise public against releasing animals into our reserves and nature areas. Volunteers and students will be setting up a station at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on 19 May from 9am to 12noon. They will engage the public from the station and around the nature reserve.