How to Release Animals for Merit and Fortune Adjustment: Best Practices and Important Precautions

Unlocking the secrets of releasing animals to counter bad luck. Adjust your destiny with the meanings of seven auspicious animals and important precautions before releasing them. How to gain the greatest merit without harming ecosystems.

Making merit by "releasing animals" is a long-standing belief deeply rooted in Thai society. It is believed to extend life and ward off misfortune, brightening a gloomy fate. However, to gain the highest merit from releasing animals, there are traditional tips and practices to follow. Thairath Online has gathered the correct guidelines for you.

Tips for choosing and places to release animals

To truly help save lives, the belief prescribes the following practices:

• Buy from fresh markets Choose birds or fish whose fate is about to end, such as animals destined to be bought for food. This act saves their lives and gives them a new chance.
• Places to release For aquatic animals, release them into large rivers with flowing water rather than small canals or stagnant waters. This ensures they can survive and grow naturally. It is not necessary to release at temples; one can select convenient places suitable for the animals' ecosystems.

Precautions for releasing animals: How to gain merit without causing harm

Beyond belief, it is crucial to consider the animals' welfare and the ecosystem, with these precautions:

• Do not release alien species Never release non-native animals that damage Thailand's ecosystem, such as suckermouth catfish, Japanese turtles (red-eared sliders), Russian catfish, or bighead catfish, as they prey on native fish to extinction.
• Observe the animal species carefully before releasing For example, "land turtles" (with domed shells and no webbed feet) cannot swim. Releasing them into deep rivers will cause drowning. They should be released in damp areas or riverbanks with soil mounds.
• Avoid supporting the capture-release cycle Avoid buying animals from traders who deliberately trap animals to keep in cages waiting for buyers to release, as this promotes animal suffering.
• Avoid eating the meat of released animals According to belief, after releasing a species, one should abstain from eating its meat for life to preserve the merit and sincerity of saving that life.

How many animals should you release? What is a good number?

The number can be based on your financial means and convenience, with these traditional principles:

• Focus on auspicious numbers It is popular to release animals in numbers ending with 9 for good fortune and progress.
• Release according to age If facing serious misfortune or seeking major fortune adjustment, it is common to release a number of animals equal to your age (e.g., 40 animals if you are 40 years old). This does not have to be done all at once but can be spread over a month.

Meanings and merits of releasing seven animal types

Each animal type carries symbolic meanings and is believed to grant different merits.

1. Releasing common fish Aims to ward off misfortune and brighten a gloomy fate, bringing prosperity.

2. Releasing chon fish (fish trapped in shallow water) Intended to ward off misfortune and grant safety from harm.

3. Releasing eels To dispel misfortune and ensure smooth, obstacle-free life progress.

4. Releasing turtles Symbolizes longevity and is believed to alleviate illness, bringing recovery and a long life.

5. Releasing freshwater snails Aims to remove suffering, sorrow, and bitterness, easing emotional pain quickly.

6. Releasing birds Believed to remove misfortune and bring happiness, prosperity, freedom, and protection from harm.

7. Releasing giant gourami fish Popular for enhancing fortune, prestige, success, and attracting wealth.

Releasing animals to ward off bad luck is a personal belief that helps build positive spirit and teaches compassion toward living beings.

Besides making merit by releasing animals, living mindfully, thinking and acting kindly, and not harming others serve as the most sustainable protection and way to improve your fate.