Trade In Wild Animals Research Articles

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 pet 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.

China's Back Door

A resident in Hong Kong describes this British colony's trade in wild animals, as reported by a group of interested observers who kept a watch on markets and shops, coupled with the inadequate government statistics. The bulk of the trade is with China, but imports also include rhino horn and enormous quantities of ivory from Africa.

Parks and Problems in Colombia

Colombia has a wealth of wildlife – including endangered species such as spectacled bear, mountain tapir, pudu and condor – a lot of still unexplored country, an impressive list of national parks and reserves, and an active national parks department. But there are many threats: a rapidly increasing population, haphazard settlement (with shifting ‘slash and burn’ cultivation), the increasing accessibility of formerly remote areas, the profitable trade in wild animals, and the lack of public interest in and support for conservation. Roger Perry has spent much time in South America, especially Colombia, and is a former Director of the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands.

The Trade in Wild Animals

The Trade in Wild Animals