Two temple animals face slaughter

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Two temple animals face slaughter

 

Shambo tested positive in April for exposure to bovine TB

 

Two more animals are to be put down at a religious community where Shambo, the

temple bullock, was slaughtered after testing positive for bovine TB. The

Welsh Assembly Government has ordered the removal of a young water buffalo and a

bullock from Skanda Vale in rural Carmarthenshire on Thursday. Shambo was

killed by lethal injection in July after a long-running legal challenge by monks

living there failed. Tests were later carried out on five more animals at the

community. Brother Alex, of Skanda Vale, says there would be no repeat of the

ceremony which took place when Shambo was taken away for slaughter. He told

BBC Radio Wales that he did not expect inspectors to be obstructed on Thursday

morning. Wales's rural affairs minister Elin Jones said: " Formal notices have

been issued to the community at Skanda Vale for two more bovines at the

community to be put down to bring the outbreak of bovine TB there under

control. " The move has been welcomed by farming

unions. Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan said: " This proves

that what has happened at Skanda Vale has followed a classic trend of TB

transmission with an initial infection apparently spreading to other animals.

For the same reasons these two animals must also be treated as required by the

law

 

 

Gareth Vaughan, FUW

 

" The Welsh Assembly Government, backed by the FUW, have already upheld the law

regarding Shambo. " The post mortem on that animal showed that the Assembly's

action was appropriate because the animal represented a major risk in terms of

disease transmission in humans and animals. " The risk appears to be no

different in the two latest cases. For the same reasons these two animals must

also be treated as required by the law. " Sanctity of life The fate of Shambo

became the focus of worldwide attention for months after it tested positive for

bovine TB in April. It culminated on 26 July when supporters from around the

UK and overseas joined a religious ceremony as officials, backed by police, took

the bullock away to be put down. The Skanda Vale community has a wide range of

livestock including an elephant, ponies, water buffalo, cows, bulls, llama and

deer. Monks say they believe in the sanctity of all life and oppose the

slaughter. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's

announcement, Brother Simon of Skanda Vale said the community wanted a

" constructive dialogue " with the assembly government. " At the very minimum

they should re-test [animals which are] positive reactors. " We believe in the

sanctity of all life and we are against slaughter. " We still firmly believe

that if animals are isolated and given a course of antibiotics they can be

cured. "

 

 

 

 

Peter H

 

 

 

 

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