The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) is urging the public not to randomly release captive animals into parks, wetlands or woodlands to avoid being fined for violating the Animal Protection Law, hoping that the public will work together to conserve the city’s ecological environment, according to an IAM statement yesterday.
Friday is Buddha’s Birthday and according to the statement, some people may consider releasing animals to bring good fortune. However, the statement noted that most of the animals sold in Macau are not native to the city and if they are released without assessment and permission, they will not only endanger the lives of the released animals, but also upset Macau’s ecological balance.
According to the Animal Protection Law, releasing an animal without permission from the government is considered as abandoning the animal and is punishable by a fine of 20,000 to 100,000 patacas.
The bureau also said that people can release animals for traditional, customary or conservation purposes, but they must submit an application to the bureau at least 15 days before the event, and the bureau must assess whether the activities meet the legal requirements and permission needs to be obtained before they can start.
This undated file photo released by the Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows a dead frog at an undisclosed location – apparently in Macau. The caption provided by the bureau did not mention the circumstances of the amphibian’s death.
