Into the wild

It's a common sight on the streets of Beijing: pet vendors with bicycle-drawn carts laden with birds, fish, turtles and rabbits cramped awkwardly in tiny bowls and cages.

The animals are a sight of desperation that tug at the heartstrings of passers-by, some who buy them out of pity to give them a good home, and others who buy them out of salvation to release them into the wild.

Hu Ning falls into the latter group. A self-declared "animal lover," he has made it his mission to free animals destined for uncertain fates and return them to their natural environment. However, it's a mission that has drawn criticism from animal experts for the damage it can cause to delicate ecosystems.

Religious roots

On January 25, the third day after Chinese New Year, Hu was up early swinging his pickaxe into a frozen lake in northeast Beijing's Miyun county. After breaching the surface, he poured buckets of live fish, mostly carp bought at a local market, into the icy water. Hu, a 34-year-old Buddhist who works in advertising, releases animals in the name of his faith. Every weekend, he is joined by around 30 others in releasing predominantly fish and birds into the wild. The group, which Hu asked to remain anonymous, released around 90,000 water creatures including fish and loach on January 25 alone.

Among Buddhists in China, releasing animals into their natural environment (a practice known as fang sheng) is considered an act of piety. It dates back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-256BC), however its popularity peaked during the Han (220BC-202AD) and Ming (1369-1644) dynasties, when sanctuaries were designated for animals and fish that weren't to be caught. As with back then, many Buddhists today firmly believe that caring for animals will bring them good karma and pave the way for a favorable reincarnation in their next life.

Zhang Bingyi, 27, is a Beijing-based graphic artist and Buddhist. She joined Hu Ning on his quest to free animals three years ago, and insists the activity brings "inner peace to the heart."

"Most members of our society are Buddhists," Zhang said, adding that there are a few secular members in the group. "We're delighted to release animals into the wild because the [Buddhist] doctrine tells us freeing them will bring benefits to us. Nothing compares with the happiness and relief of knowing you just saved thousands of lives."

Animals are often released in Beijing's remote outskirts, such as Miyun county and Tongzhou district, but sometimes they are freed as far away as Tianjin and Hebei Province.

"We often purchase creatures destined to be cooked from the market, including fish, birds, turtles and snakes," said Hu, adding that he and his companions saved 23 million animals last year. "The more members we have, the more lives we can save. We all share the same charitable vision, and are confident we will receive good karma."

The cruel reality

Despite the altruistic act of freeing animals, not all creatures enjoy a happy ending in the wild. Some introduced animals upset delicate local ecosystems. Most domesticated pets lack the instincts to survive on their own in the wild, while others threaten other species by competing for food sources and breeding unabated when there are no predators. For these reasons, releasing pets into the wild is illegal in many countries. In some US states, offenders risk fines as high as $2,000 if they are caught.

Dr Guo Yumin, an associate professor of wildlife conservation at Beijing Forestry University, described releasing animals into the wild as a "controversial issue."

"Reckless releasing of animals can result in an undesired outcome for the so-called rescuers," Dr Guo said. "Every species has its own environment, and introducing them to a new one usually results in the sudden change of that environment. To some animals, this can mean death."

Dr Guo stressed that while tropical parrots thrive as indoor pets, they have a slim chance of surviving Beijing's sub-zero winters. Most fish kept as pets are another species that cannot survive in waters where they are easy prey. "Omnivorous species such as catfish and snakehead fish are predators that would snack on other smaller fish sold as pets," Dr Guo explained.

Even herbivorous fish that live off vegetation can be destructive. Most species of carp sold at markets eat water plants, and can clean out the vegetation of lakes where they are released, leaving other species to starve.

"There used to be more than 40 species of fish in the waters of Shidu [90 kilometers southwest of Beijing], but now there are only around 10. The invasion of alien species is possibly driving the extinction of others," warned Dr Guo.

However Hu and his fellow Buddhists insist they are aware of the risks and threats posed by their actions, and understand the delicate balance of ecosystems. "We ask our members not to introduce alien species to ecosystems, and we don't ever release fish that prey on other water creatures," Hu said.

'Torturous cycle'

In a cruel twist, some animals sold as pets are actually recaptured from the wild after being released. Turtles rank as easy victims because of their slow speed and vulnerability while basking on logs or rocks at ponds.

"Clearly, it's an act of abuse," said Guo, referring to vendors who encourage buyers to release the animals they sell. "Buyers are misled into thinking they are doing something good, but really they are perpetuating this cycle of torture to the animals. The bottom line is that if no one buys these animals, no one will catch them."

Tong Yonghong, an officer with the Beijing Forestry and Parks Department, said the government only supports the release of injured animals rescued from the wild after they have recuperated.

"We have set up many wildlife rescue centers. However, we don't encourage people to buy birds or turtles purely for the purpose of releasing them into the wild," Tong said.

"We realize where there is a demand, there is a market. Some animal lovers are too eager to save lives, which supports the trade of animals poached from the wild."

Hu said his society is aware of the concern, emphasizing that he and his fellow members never reveal they will release the animals into the wild with the sellers. "We always ensure the animals' security. No one wants to make them suffer more," he insisted.