HEATHERDALE - A new ratpack, led by the monks who have moved into eastern P.E.I., is causing quite the stir.
Members of the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) have been catching and releasing rats at its Heatherdale location.
Following a complaint to the provincial Department of Environment, staff members were sent down to talk to the monks about what they were doing.
While it isn’t illegal to catch and release rats, a spokeswoman with the department says it’s something that tends to bother P.E.I. farmers.
Geoffrey Yang, spokesman with GEBIS, confirmed that two monks captured and released six rats onto a nearby property also owned by the society. It is Buddhist practice not to harm life of any kind.
Monks regularly purchase lobster and release them back into the water.
In July, the Buddhist made international headlines by liberating 600 pounds of lobster.
Before returning the crustaceans to their natural habitat, the monks sprinkled the lobsters with purified water and performed a 20-minute ceremony involving a Buddhist chant for compassion.
GEBIS moved into Heatherdale more than two years ago and it was one of the older abandoned buildings where a large number of rats were found.
Yang said the monks thought they were doing a good thing but have since stopped the practice.
The province is working with the monks to devise a humane way of dealing with the rat problem.
HEATHERDALE - A new ratpack, led by the monks who have moved into eastern P.E.I., is causing quite the stir.
Members of the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) have been catching and releasing rats at its Heatherdale location.
Following a complaint to the provincial Department of Environment, staff members were sent down to talk to the monks about what they were doing.
While it isn’t illegal to catch and release rats, a spokeswoman with the department says it’s something that tends to bother P.E.I. farmers.
Geoffrey Yang, spokesman with GEBIS, confirmed that two monks captured and released six rats onto a nearby property also owned by the society. It is Buddhist practice not to harm life of any kind.
Monks regularly purchase lobster and release them back into the water.
In July, the Buddhist made international headlines by liberating 600 pounds of lobster.
Before returning the crustaceans to their natural habitat, the monks sprinkled the lobsters with purified water and performed a 20-minute ceremony involving a Buddhist chant for compassion.
GEBIS moved into Heatherdale more than two years ago and it was one of the older abandoned buildings where a large number of rats were found.
Yang said the monks thought they were doing a good thing but have since stopped the practice.
The province is working with the monks to devise a humane way of dealing with the rat problem.
