1100 cats released from the reservoir, drowned out...abuse under the guise of religion
Nov 10, 2025
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According to Hong Kong media South China Morning Post, an event to release 1,100 cats was held near the Ying Zui Reservoir in Qingyuan, Guangdong Province, China.
'Life release' is a traditional Buddhist ritual, and it is considered an act of building mercy and merit by returning fish, birds, turtles, etc. to nature. However, in recent years, criticism of ecosystem destruction and animal cruelty has become controversial.
A video of the event recently posted online shows two large trucks carrying cat cages arriving at the Yingjui Reservoir and releasing about 1120 cats.
The purchase and transportation cost of these cats is known to be about 39,97 yuan (about 6.3 million won).
Stunned by the sudden release, the cats fled over the trees or jumped into the water, and some drowned because they could not swim.
As a result, some citizens who were enjoying paddleboarding nearby tried to rescue cats floundering in the water.
A local resident said, `Cats were everywhere, and some tried to swim to the deep water"We rescued three, and we tried to get the rest back."
Animal protection volunteers later came to the rescue, but many cats were in shock and fear, and some had already died.
In the wake of the controversy, the city authorities launched an investigation saying there were 10 people involved in the event and about 400 cats were released" he announced. Authorities say "Their intentions are not criminal, and there is no evidence of wrongdoing," he added.
The authorities' position on the incident sparked outrage on social media in mainland China.
Netizens are asking "Where did you get so many cats? Didn't he steal it by any chance?", "What kind of release is this? It's just animal cruelty in the guise of religion, and I don't understand why you're releasing a cat into a reservoir" continue to criticize others.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
