On our way to complete my monkey business in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park on Saturday we stopped off at the Buddhist temple in Kuiburi. MTF had seen advertisements asking for donations on the highway and she wanted to make merit. The wat covers a large area of land right in the centre of Kuiburi and has some fantastic architecture, icons and murals.
However this post is not about the beauty of the buildings but instead about the sale of birds, animals and reptiles at temples throughout Thailand to satisfy the Buddhist belief of releasing life.
It is common to see caged birds, which the faithful purchase and release from captivity but I have never come across captive yellow headed temple turtles for sale and release before. Perhaps I have not looked hard enough because the reasons the turtles have this name is that they are frequently found around Buddhist temples here in Thailand.
As you can see from today's image I found a dry plastic bucket displayed near the "commercial" part of the temple with ten or more yellow headed temple turtles inside. Although the bucket was partially shaded it had no water in it and it is clear to see that the reptiles were stressed.
Just above the turtles where several very small cages stuffed with wild birds, also for purchase and release.
I couldn't identify the birds but they are some sort of finch. So how did the turtles and birds end up at the temple for sale and release? Quite simple really since there is a huge trade in such wildlife. Trappers net the birds, cage them and then sell them to the temple. While the turtles are either netted from ponds in the temple grounds or nearby waterways.Chances are that many of the creatures are subject to capture and release several times over.
There is also a chance that the captured bird or reptile will be released away from its natural environment which can lead to further stress or in worst case scenario's lead to the introduction of alien species into a country which in turn can affect the natural balance of the eco-system.
While I do not pretend to be fully conversant with the teachings of the Buddha this particular practice of releasing life seems to me to fly in the face of Buddhists love for animals.
What do you think?
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4 comments:
Mike, I don't know about the turtles, I would assume they need to be hunted down...but I have seen how the birds work and it is a win win situation.
The birds know that the sellers feed them and more importantly where they feed them. You buy the birds then release them and the birds fly directly back to where they get fed. They get caged back up and the cycle goes on.
I watched this at a temple in Pattaya. The birds would fly around and play for a while and eat and when the cages came out they flew right down to the handlers.
I don't think this is what Buddha intended though but it works for the tourist trade.
This has been debated over here, but the practice continues.
I'm one of those people who is more likely to give people's beliefs some credit and to allow them to worship as they see fit. But creating cruelty and suffering in order to perform a rite of benevolence and release? I don't think I like that one bit.
Mike I have seen the birds being sold on Pattaya beach but Talen's explanation says it all really. I always suspected the same birds were used again and again but I am shocked to read that temples are involved. It's the first I have heard of turtles being used but I guess it is really up to the majority (Thai's) to decide if it is right or wrong rather than the minority (farang).
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