Gangotri (cow)
Encyclopedia
Gangotri, a famous cow that lived at Bhaktivedanta Manor
, was killed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
in December 2007. The killing of Gangotri is a current issue for the Hindu
s of England
and has led to protest concerning the treatment of cattle
in the United Kingdom
.
temple in Hertfordshire and killed Gangotri by the administration of a lethal injection. Gangotri was not suffering from any disease but had damaged her hind muscles and could not stand. She was lovingly cared for by the temple staff and the temple had employed vets to medically care for her and to monitor her health. The temple, donated in 1973 by George Harrison
, runs The Cow Protection Project, a no-kill shelter
where cows and bulls are allowed to die naturally. The RSPCA claimed that the cow was suffering however they killed the cow without consultation with the vets treating the cow http://www.justiceforgangotri.org/myths-and-facts/. They claimed to have consulted with other vets to which temple officials counter that
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hindu-monks-sue-rspca-over-slaughter-of-sacred-cow-gangotri-802332.html
On December 26, 2007, about 200 people protested at the RSPCA headquarters in Horsham
, West Sussex
, while another 700 Hindus held prayers at the Manor. Protests were also held a few months later in March.
They also donated a pregnant cow to the sanctuary representing a symbol of reconciliation.
Bhaktivedanta Manor
Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple set in the Hertfordshire countryside of England in the village of Aldenham near Watford. The Manor, as it is called by those familiar with it, is owned and run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known as ISKCON or the...
, was killed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
in December 2007. The killing of Gangotri is a current issue for the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and has led to protest concerning the treatment of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The Killing
On December 13, 2007, RSPCA inspectors and a government vet arrived at the Bhaktivedanta ManorBhaktivedanta Manor
Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple set in the Hertfordshire countryside of England in the village of Aldenham near Watford. The Manor, as it is called by those familiar with it, is owned and run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known as ISKCON or the...
temple in Hertfordshire and killed Gangotri by the administration of a lethal injection. Gangotri was not suffering from any disease but had damaged her hind muscles and could not stand. She was lovingly cared for by the temple staff and the temple had employed vets to medically care for her and to monitor her health. The temple, donated in 1973 by George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, runs The Cow Protection Project, a no-kill shelter
No-kill Shelter
A kill shelter is an animal shelter where animals are euthanized if they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be suitable for adoption or due to lack of shelter space...
where cows and bulls are allowed to die naturally. The RSPCA claimed that the cow was suffering however they killed the cow without consultation with the vets treating the cow http://www.justiceforgangotri.org/myths-and-facts/. They claimed to have consulted with other vets to which temple officials counter that
"Two veterinary surgeons, one who lived locally and the other a specialist based in Oxford, were regularly supervising the cow’s medical treatment. They were administering medicine themselves, and also guiding the daily care being given by the community members. It is normal farming practise that once a cow is down or cannot walk, she will be killed by the vet because, within a few weeks, physical complications will arise that most farmers don’t have the time to deal with. As a religious community, we made the choice to care, and those two vets chose to support us. Two other vets, who were unfamiliar with the way we work with animals, one of whom was merely a passer-by, gave different opinions. At first, the chief vet responsible for animal welfare in the appropriate government department, known as Defra, also gave a recommendation that the cow be killed. When he made a personal visit to the temple however, and saw how the animal was being cared for, he informed us that no further action would be taken".
Protests and Legal Action
The temple officials considered legal action against the RSPCA over its actions. The Independent on March 28, 2008 reported that the RSPCA has been sued and the sanctuary claimed "The RSPCA unlawfully trespassed on temple property and unlawfully trespassed on the life of a cow. The cow was under veterinary care and was recovering. There was absolutely no reason for her to be killed".http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hindu-monks-sue-rspca-over-slaughter-of-sacred-cow-gangotri-802332.html
On December 26, 2007, about 200 people protested at the RSPCA headquarters in Horsham
Horsham
Horsham is a market town with a population of 55,657 on the upper reaches of the River Arun in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, while another 700 Hindus held prayers at the Manor. Protests were also held a few months later in March.
Apology by the RSPCA
On the 13th December 2008, the RSPCA has apologized for the killing of Gangotri. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7780665.stm.They also donated a pregnant cow to the sanctuary representing a symbol of reconciliation.