“In an eastern tradition, many people believe that setting a caged bird free will bring them good luck or earn them merit,” a friend in Myanmar explained. Bounthy’s father captures birds from the wild, transports them to the cities and sells them either as pets or to the devout believers. “Capturing a healthy wild bird is like kidnapping. It stresses the bird, and contributes to the decline of wild bird populations,” says a wildlife conservationist. “Besides, no one likes being kept in a cage and birds are the same as us. How do you think they must feel?”