Are well‐intended Buddhist practices an under‐appreciated threat to global aquatic biodiversity?

Abstract

The inherently pro‐conservation and humane Buddhist practice of ‘live release’, entailing the release into the wild of creatures destined for slaughter, poses potentially significant conservation consequences if inappropriate, invasive species are procured for release. This article collates evidence, citing one legal case and other examples, about the risks of the live release of potentially invasive aquatic species that may result in serious, possibly irreversible, conservation threats to aquatic biodiversity and natural ecosystems, with ensuing adverse ecological and human consequences. It is essential that practitioners are aware of these risks if their actions are not to work diametrically against the pro‐conservation and humane intents of the practice. Ensuring that live release occurs safely necessitates raising awareness, with guidance informed by science, to ensure that good intentions do not result in perverse, environmentally destructive outcomes. We propose four simple principles to achieve this, for dissemination to the global adherents of these otherwise entirely laudable practices.

Freshwater Fish Invasions: A Comprehensive Review

“…Animal releases as a part of prayer rituals, offerings to gods or as a means of protecting living organisms are practiced in some religions such as Buddhism or Taoism (Everard et al, 2019).…”

Compassionate Conservation and the Challenge of Sustainable Wildlife Management: A Survey of the Urban Public of China

“…In the second part, an attitudes scale regarding SWM, was introduced [ 3 ]. The questions were connected to various contemporary social issues related to the wildlife conservation and management in China today such as Release [ 21 ], Animal Welfare and Rights [ 22 ], Vegetarianism [ 23 ], and Trophy Hunting [ 24 ]. To assess respondent attitudes quantitatively we incorporated twenty questions in total, which for the analysis we grouped into seven categories (Animal Release, Animal Welfare and Rights, Wildlife Utilization and Captive Breeding, People and Wildlife Management, Vegetarianism and Wildlife Conservation, the role of Public Attitudes to Wildlife Conservation, and Trophy Hunting).…”

Biological invasions and human dimensions: We still need to work hard on our social perspectives

“…Originally, this practice used to involve only common farm/house animals. However, the current increasing number of believers worldwide has favored the growth of a very specific kind of social scenario in which thousands of birds, fish, monkeys, reptiles, frogs and insects are purchased in pet markets to be then released into the wild, turning the 'prayer animal release' practice into a potential pathway to introduce species in their non-native environments (Severinghaus and Chi 1999;Everard et al 2019). That was the case of the red-eared Brazil turtle (Trachemys scripta), which is now one of the most abundant invasive turtles in Taiwan; and also, the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), listed among the 100 worst invasive species, which has become invasive after repeated introductions in water bodies of the Yunnan province of China through this religious practice (Awoyemi et al 2016).…”