The tradition causes more animal suffering than it prevents, undermining the original point of the ritual to save a life in danger.
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| Photo: John Brookland/animalrightsandwrongs.com |
On
a recent trip to Cambodia I was saddened to see that the Buddhist practice of releasing
wild caught birds and other animals for merit is still flourishing. The
tradition is variously called Fang Sheng, life release or merit releasing.
Vendors on the waterfront in Phnom Penh near the Royal Palace and at the iconic
temple of Wat Phnom were being kept busy with a stream of worshippers eager to
buy. Cages containing thousands of stressed birds were lined up alongside the
flower sellers and buyers seemed oblivious to their plight which must be at odds
with Buddhist beliefs and doctrines.
Unfortunately the
need to preserve or give life to another living being in order to obtain good karma and cleanse
ones past sins appears to override any consideration of the welfare of the
animals that they buy and immediately release. The age old tradition dating
back to at least the sixth century allegedly began with devotees buying animals
destined for slaughter and literally saving their lives.
Now it is purely a
trade in which turtles, snails, crabs, eels, snakes, and live birds are made
captive and sold for financial gain. The practice is prevalent across Asia and
seems to be on the increase and causes more animal suffering than it prevents,
undermining the original point of the ritual to save a life in danger.
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| Devotee carrying cage of birds into temple. Photo: johnbrookland |
Trapping
wild birds for the trade is indiscriminate. A recent study of the trade in
Cambodia estimates 770,000 birds of 57 species are involved, many of which are
endangered species ranging from owls and parakeets to finches and swifts. 10% tested positive for H5N1 bird flu which can cause illness in humans.
In China alone it is estimated that 200 million animals are “freed” each year.
Sellers see no
harm in it
The vendors use
large “storage” cages containing over 400 small birds and then dispense a dozen
or so into takeaway cages to take into the temple for blessing. This involves
manhandling them which causes panic, injuries, and stress. The vendors see no
harm in it and believe the birds do not suffer.
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| Bird seller outside temple. Photo: johnbrookland |
Although the birds
have food and water and the cages appear relatively clean it is the stress of
capture, transport, overcrowding and constant manhandling that causes death and
injury.
I watched in
horror as one man dipped his cage of newly acquired birds in the nearby river
to freshen them up and I saw another putting a dozen finches into a sealed
clear plastic bag as though they we produce from a supermarket where they
fluttered in distress.
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| This man was happy to put the birds into a sealed plastic bag. Photo: johnbrookland |
In
Thailand, the SPCA have managed to negotiate some cooperation from Buddhist
temples who are trying to ban or remove sellers from outside their complexes,
but this is not widespread. Buddhists in the UK and USA also practice Fang
Sheng often with dire consequences. In 2017, two London Buddhists were ordered to pay £28,000 ($34,000) in
fines and compensation for a mass release of hundreds of non-native lobsters
and crabs into the sea from a boat off Brighton causing “untold damage” to
marine life.
Consign the ritual
to history
The Buddhist
religion supposedly venerates the life of all beings and is against suffering
and many temples help street dogs by feeding them and allowing them to rest in
their compounds. They collect food and feed zoo animals and carry out other
compassionate acts to animals. But at the same time monks get involved in the
wildlife smuggling trade and keep monkeys and other animals confined in awful
cages in their temple complexes. It is perhaps time for the Buddhist hierarchy
to look at their mixed approach to their beliefs regarding living creatures and consign practices like
Fang Sheng to history.
