Mercy release, commonly known as ‘prayer animal release’ or live release’, is the act of releasing captured animals into the wild to prevent them from being consumed by human beings. The practice is deeply embedded in the religious context of Buddhism or Taoism since it is believed to be rooted in the concept of compassion; liberating captured wildlife will not only generate positive karma for the participants but also grant a second chance of survival for the animals released (Thach, 2024). Yet the actual implications of this practice are a far cry from positive with animals subjected to immense pain and suffering.