TORONTO, October 30, 2026 – On October 4, at the initiative of Venerable Dayi Shi, President of the Buddhist Association of Canada and Abbot of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada, Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden and the Greater Vancouver Zoo held a wildlife conservation and ecological blessing event. The Buddhist organizations also donated $10,000 to establish a dedicated conservation fund supporting wildlife research and environmental protection projects. The event marked the first stop in Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden’s broader wildlife conservation initiative.
The event was jointly organized by Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada, Cham Shan Temple of the Buddhist Association of Canada, and Fu Hui Temple in Vancouver, with support from the Wildlife Protection Coalition of Canada (WPC).
During the event, Buddhist monks conducted a traditional purification and blessing ceremony at the zoo, offering prayers for the well-being of the animals. Zoo conservation staff then introduced participants to daily animal care, wildlife rescue and environmental conservation efforts, while providing information about the zoo’s ongoing conservation programs.
Organizers said they hoped the collaboration would bring together the Buddhist tradition of compassion and respect for all living beings with professional wildlife conservation efforts, helping the public better understand animal care, wildlife research and habitat protection.
During the event, Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden, Cham Shan Temple and Fu Hui Temple jointly donated $10,000 to establish a dedicated conservation fund. The funding is intended to support graduate-level wildlife research projects in Canada, the purchase of field monitoring equipment and other ecological research initiatives.
Venerable Dayi Shi said Buddhism emphasizes respect for life and compassion toward all living beings, and that wildlife protection must also be reflected in concrete, long-term actions. Through the partnership with the Greater Vancouver Zoo, he hopes to draw on the experience of professional conservation organizations to expand cooperation in scientific research, public education and practical conservation projects.
Representatives from the Greater Vancouver Zoo and the Wildlife Protection Coalition of Canada also participated in the day’s discussions, sharing their work in animal care, ecological research and wildlife conservation with religious organizations and other attendees.
Venerable Dayi Shi said Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden will continue promoting wildlife and environmental conservation initiatives and seek partnerships with more professional organizations to support research, conservation programs and public education.
The Greater Vancouver Zoo event marked the first stop of the initiative, with future activities expected to continue focusing on wildlife protection and environmental conservation.
（LJI by Yuanyuan）
