Please Save Shambo

Taken from the web site Skandavale.org http://www.skandavale.org/shambo.htm:

The National Assembly for Wales
has issued a notice of intended slaughter. This means they intend to kill “Shambo” one of our Temple Bulls.

27th April 2007

· Shambo one of our Temple bulls has tested positive to a routine Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) skin test. This means that he is suspected, not proven to carry Bovine TB.

· The current policy of DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is to kill any animal suspected of carrying Bovine TB.

· Shambo is in a very healthy condition. If TB does develop in him, he can be expected to make a full recovery given appropriate care.

· As a responsible organisation we have sought professional veterinary advice to ensure that the measures we are taking are robust and appropriate to minimise any risk of possible spread of disease either to other animals in our care, other farm animals, wildlife, the members of the Community involved in direct animal husbandry or members of the public visiting the Community for worship.

· We understand and appreciate DEFRA’s position with regards to public health and containing the spread of TB with the view to eliminate it from the national herd. We have been advised by our solicitors that there is provision both within the Animal Health Act 1981 and the more recent TB order Wales 2006 for permission to treat and vaccinate any animal identified as having TB with the prior consent of the minister for the national Assembly of Wales.

· If we were to permit DEFRA to kill Shambo it would be an appalling desecration of life, the sanctity of our Temples and Hinduism as a whole.

· We could no more allow the slaughter of Shambo than we could the killing of a human being. Ultimately we would be willing to defend his life with our own.

· We sincerely hope and pray that the officials at DEFRA will respect, not desecrate, the Hindu religion, the sanctity of Shambo’s life and Skanda Vale’s holy Temples.

· If DEFRA decide to desecrate the Hindu religion and try to kill Shambo, we exhort all those who support the Temple and Sanathana Dharma to come to our assistance.

3rd May 2007

We have today received a "Notice of Intended Slaughter" from the National Assembly for Wales.
We are taking steps to challenge this decision through the courts.

4th May 2007
· Shambo has been isolated from other bovines and from contact with the public in a specially constructed shrine within our main Temple.

Preparing Shambo's new home in the back of the
Murugan Temple

Shambo's new home is ready

Shambo represents Nandi (Lord Shiva's bull)

6th May

We have started an online petition

7th May

Shambo has settled into his new home and is coping well with the pressures of bovine superstardom.
Nearly 600 supporters from all over the world have signed up to our petition in the first 24 hours.
Please tell all your friends to get on their computer and sign the petition.