The irony of releasing animals in the wild for salvation

Some believers in Buddhism released about 300 arctic foxes and minks in the mountains north of Beijing late last month. Soon a farmer reported to local officials that foxes had killed three of his chickens, and local forestry police started a hunt for the animals. By April 13, police had found about 100 foxes, of which more than 40 had starved to death.

The practice of setting animals free is not new. Buddhists have been releasing animals in the wild for ages, apparently to save them from slaughter or being "exploited" by their human masters. But even if police found the people who set the animals free, there is no law to hold them accountable for the troubles they have caused, albeit wittingly, to the local residents.

For Buddhists, setting animals free is regarded as a means of salvation (or an act of penance). If it is done on an auspicious day according to the Buddhist calendar, the deed becomes more virtuous, which in their belief can strengthen a person's chances of going to heaven after death, or help cleanse his/her sins. Although there are many schools in Buddhism, releasing animals from bondage or captivity is a common practice among all.