Who let these birds out?

Orange-cheeked Waxbill

It seems like 'Operation No Release', an initiative led by the NParks and PUB, did not deter people from releasing animals before Vesak Day and on Vesak Day itself. 

Sightings of non-native birds were being made by many photographers across Singapore. The birding community has been having a field day with birds mainly imported from the African continent.

The Black and White Mannikin was first sighted at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Then news spread that they were also at Lorong Halus Wetlands.

Black and White Mannikin

Next came the waxbills, so named because of the prominent red (the colour of sealing wax) of their conical bills. These seedeaters were sighted flying around in flocks and seem to be thriving in the grasslands mixed in with other local seedeaters.

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Common Waxbill

There are many others, which I have not had the good luck of photographing such as the Black-rumped Waxbill, the Streaked Weaver, the Golden-backed Weaver, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Zanzibar Bishop, Red Bishop (Southern Red Bishop), the Golden Bishop (Yellow-crowned Bishop), Red-headed Quelea, and the Yellow-fronted Canary.

We know that releasing animals creates demand for more animals to be trapped and sold in shops. Why then does AVA allow more birds to be imported? Won't stringent control on supply increase the purchase price of each animal sold and deter mass purchase for release?