Vesak Day Reminder: Do Not Release Animals Into the Wild

The National Parks Board (NParks) would like to remind members of the public not to release animals into the wild this Vesak Day.

"We would like to appeal to the public not to release animals into the wild as it means sending them to their deaths", says Mr Wong Tuan Wah, Director of Conservation, NParks. "As some of these animals are usually kept as pets, they are not likely to survive as they are not used to the surroundings and are not able to cope in the wild. If these animals carry viruses, they will also affect other native wildlife."

Operation No Release

To raise public awareness on the rationale of not releasing animals into the wild, NParks is working with volunteers to carry out 'Operation No Release' in the nature reserves and reservoirs this weekend. They will be keeping a lookout for any case of animal release and will also educate and advise members of the public on the harm of releasing animals into the wild.

"We should be compassionate and considerate to animals both in captivity as well as in the wild as releasing certain animals could threaten those in the wild. It would be more beneficial to reduce our meat intake all year round than simply releasing animals during Vesak as this could also encourage vendors to increase the supply of animals for this very purpose", says Angie Chew Monksfield, President, Buddhist Fellowship.

Outreach Ambassadors

To complement efforts of the 'Operation No Release', NParks is partnering with volunteers and Primary Four students from CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace to conduct an Outreach Ambassador session. This session aims to educate and advise public against releasing animals into our reserves and nature areas. Volunteers and students will be setting up a station at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on 19 May from 9am to 12noon. They will engage the public from the station and around the nature reserve.