Sparrow mercy release

Animal vendors at Xiaowuji Qishicheng Market have been spotted advertising the sale of captive sparrows for mercy release, the Beijing Evening News reported. Sparrows are a city-level protected animal; it is against the law to capture more than 30 sparrows.

At the market, dozens of birds were seen crammed into a single small cage. The vendors claim that the act of buying and freeing these birds can help clear one's conscience after committing wrongs. According to wild animal experts, the demand created by mercy release purchases is an incentive for vendors to catch even more wild birds. For every bird that makes it to market alive, three to nine die during capture and transport.

The vendors also illegally sell other protected birds such as peacocks and bluethroats.