Crocodiles died in the reservoir, why is the release "killing"?

Source: Beijing News

Crocodiles died in the reservoir, why is the release "killing"?

■ To discuss

On September 16, the public reported that crocodile cubs had been illegally released from the West Branch Reservoir (Jingniang Lake) in Wu'an City, Handan City, Hebei Province. Unfortunately, just a few days after the release, the crocodile was found and caught ashore and died.

This is another tragedy in which the release of life has become a killing.

The revised Wildlife Protection Law specifically provides for two situations of release. One is that the release of alien species bought on the market is prohibited; the other is the local species that are allowed to be released by law, but they cannot affect the production and life of local residents, cause losses to property, and must be carried out under the guidance of scientific institutions and cannot be released at will.

The crocodiles released this time belong to endangered wild protected animals and are listed internationally by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as Category I protected endangered wild animals and plants. According to the relevant laws, whether crocodiles can be released must be confirmed and evaluated by animal research institutions and management departments. Apparently, the crocodile released this time has not undergone such an evaluation.

In addition, each organism has a unique living environment, crocodiles like to live in an environment with a humidity of 60%, and the reservoir released this time is obviously not the crocodile's favorite wetland environment. Although the release site of Handan, Hebei Province, belongs to the temperate semi-humid monsoon climate, it is not suitable for crocodiles to survive.

Moreover, in addition to fish in the reservoir, there are fewer other animals suitable for crocodiles to prey on. In addition, the released crocodiles are less than 1 meter long artificially bred crocodile pups, and the survival ability in the wild is obviously weak.

Blind release of crocodiles also has an obvious risk factor. As a ferocious carnivore, crocodiles, if not protected, humans may also become food in their mouths.

Therefore, the death of the crocodile after its release has once again sounded a wake-up call for us: we cannot blindly release it in the name of doing good.

□ Zhang Tiankan (columnist)