Prayer animal release in Taiwan

In east Asia, people believe that one can accrue merits by freeing captive animals into the wild as a form of prayer to the gods. This practice is called "prayer animal release." When organized by temples, normally a large number of animals are involved and are referred to as "ceremonial animal releases". Prayer animals are supplied by pst stores which obtain them from dealers or trappers. Both local and exotic species may be released. The scope and ecological impact of animal releases, especially when involving exotic species, have not been carefully monitored before. In Taiwan, we conducted a questionnaire survey in Taipei and found that 29.5% of the people of all religions participate in prayer animal releases. Women with lower education, who are financially well-off and who believe that released animals can survive in the wild? are most likely to participate in ceremonial animal releases. Ceremonial animal release is also practiced in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Korea. Education programs targeted at specific social groups are needed to reduce the extent of ceremonial animal releases. Proper regulation of international wild animal trade is also needed to curtail the spread of exotic animals in Taiwan and other countries in the region. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.