Singapore
Story
May 7, 2009
Don't free animals into wild
Releasing animals into nature reserves and resevoirs, like Lower Pierce Resevoir (left), may be harmful to the ecological balance of these places and the water quality in reservoirs, said NParks in a statement on Thursday. -- ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW
AS Vesak Day approaches, the National Parks Board (NParks) and PUB are urging the public not to release animals into nature reserves and resevoirs.
Such acts may be harmful to the ecological balance of these places and the water quality in reservoirs, said NParks in a statement on Thursday.
'Most people do not realise that releasing animals means sending them to their deaths,' said Ms Sharon Chan, NPark's assistant director.
'One incident I encountered was the release of a few soft-shell terrapins. They were not equipped to survive in the wild and died that very day. Should these animals harbour viruses, they will contaminate the water and affect other native wildlife.'
Ms Angie Monksfield, president of the Buddhist Fellowship, also explained that releasing animals into the wild may not be a kind act.
'Being kind to animals is one of the core practices in Buddhism. However freeing animals into the wild, especially those that have been bred in captivity, is not necessarily a kind act as these animals would be easy prey for predators,' she said.
Ms Monksfield added that this may also end up disrupting the ecosystem and thus affect native animals in their habitat and in turn being cruel to 'existing' animals in the wild.
To remind the public, members of the Buddhist Fellowship, students and volunteers will be distributing brochures and putting up posters at several locations including MacRitchie Resevoir Park and Lower and Upper Pierce Resevoir this weekend and next.
