(CN-HKG) Chicken Cull

[Guest guest]

Sunday Morning Post - May 20 2001

BUDDHISTS TO ATTONE FOR " SIN " by Antoine So

 

Planned release of fish to pacify chickens' souls infuriates greens who fear

damage to the ecology.

 

A Buddhist temple plans to free hundreds of fish off Siu Sai Wan this week

to pacify the souls of the culled chickens. But conservations have

condemned the move, saying it will threaten native species.

 

Western Monastery, in Tsuen Wan, will be the first Buddhist group to hold a

ritual today to compensate for what it calls the sinful chicken cull.

 

" They are destined to die as they were born to be eaten but killing them in

such a mass quantity in a single act is against the natural cycle of life, "

said the temple's head monk, the Reverend Wing Sing.

 

" The sin is going to effect Hong Kong and must be compensated for. The

chickens' lost souls must be pacified or we will have more disasters to

come. "

 

Natural disasters such as flooding and typhoons would follow as punishment

if no proper ritual were held, he said. The ritual would involve monks

reciting prayers to pacify the culled chickens.

 

Later, the temple intends to release the fish near the Tin Hau Temple in Siu

Sai Wan. The exact number of fish to be freed depends on followers'

donations, the head monk said it would be " several hundred " .

 

Richard Corlett, the associate professor Hong Kong University's Department

of Ecology and Biodiversity, said the laws failed to adequately protect

wildlife from the threat posed by the uncontrolled introduction of exotic

species.

 

He accused Buddhists of the irresponsible mass release of exotic species

every year, most of which die within days because they are unable to adapt

to their new surroundings, The few that survive could cause ecological

imbalance. Mr Corlett said that thanks to human interference five percent

of Hong Kong's bird species were exotic and between seven and ten percent of

plant species were introduced. A survey by his department found that 27 of

the 145 freshwater fish were non-native.

 

Mr Corlett's accusation came ahead of International Biodiversity Day on

Tuesday 22nd May, which this year will focus on the need to guard against

introduced species. It also coincides with an Agriculture, Fisheries and

Conservation Department pledge to set up a team to look into the issue.

 

A bird specialist, Michael Leven, said at least four alien bird species had

bee established in Hong Kong due to Buddhist rituals. These included

babblers, such as the blue wing minla, and the silver-eared mesia.

 

The Reverend Wing Sing said: " If the fish we set free die, they will die for

a good cause and they will earn merit in the next life. But they could help

to wash away the sin of killing millions of chickens. "

 

Mr Corlett said he saw no justification for the releases. " I can't see how

it's any compensation. A large number of chickens have to die, but what the

monks will do is going to cause new suffering to other species. "

 

The Hong Kong Buddhist Association is also planning its own ritual for the

chickens soon. And it is understood other smaller temples are organising

various bird releases for the chicken cull.

 

The supervisor of Po Lin Monastery, the Reverend Sik Chi-wai, said Buddhist

doctrine allowed for changes of attitude in society, such as those towards

animal releases. " Buddhism advocates change, " he said. " If there's a change

in perception in our society, I suppose monks can cater for this change.

But Buddhism has thousands of years of tradition and if change is to come,

it will require a long time. "

 

The Buddhists had the support of bird-shop owners in Mongkok. " If they say

alien birds should be prevented, then should we also stop expatriates and

mainland migrants coming to Hong Kong? " said Ng Tak-shing, owner of the

Rainbow Bird Shop in Mongkok. " We are talking about livelihood here. "