Mobilizing Religion and Conservation in Asia

Abstract

This paper is NOT THE PUBLISHED VERSION; but the author's final, peer-reviewed manuscript. The published version may be accessed by following the link in th citation below.

High risk of biological invasion from prayer animal release in China

“…Given the serious risks that PARs pose to the environment and to biodiversity, conservation organizations (eg the Society for Conservation Biology, SCB) have called for immediate actions to curb the likely adverse effects of PARs. Such actions include educating particular religious groups about the risks involved with PARs, enforcing regulations and laws, providing alternatives to PARs, and monitoring of biodiversity at PAR sites (Agoramoorthy and Hsu 2005;Awoyemi et al 2012Awoyemi et al , 2016Magellan 2019). Although the potential ecological and environmental issues caused by PARs are disconcerting to academics and the general public alike, the potential risk of PAR-related species invasions has never been fully evaluated.…”

“…The number of animals involved in PAR events is staggering (Awoyemi et al . 2012). For example, the Buddhist China Preserve Life Association reported that more than 20 million animals—the vast majority of which were small aquatic species—were released in at least 300 ceremonies conducted in 2008 alone (Awoyemi et al .…”

“…For example, the Buddhist China Preserve Life Association reported that more than 20 million animals—the vast majority of which were small aquatic species—were released in at least 300 ceremonies conducted in 2008 alone (Awoyemi et al . 2012). In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, an estimated 688,675 birds are purchased annually in local markets for the purposes of ceremonial releases (Gilbert et al .…”

“…Prayer animal release (PAR)—or fangsheng in Chinese, hōjō in Japanese, and tshe thar in Tibetan—is a popular ritual practice common in Asia, with a long history of Buddhist and Taoist influences (Shiu and Stokes 2008; Awoyemi et al . 2012; Liu et al . 2012).…”

“…In an era of rapid globalization, PAR events are currently no longer limited to Asia, having become increasingly popular in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania (Awoyemi et al . 2012; Liu et al . 2012; Magellan 2019).…”