Hindu activists demand ban on serving beef to animals in Assam zoo

Demanding imposition of ban on cow slaughtering across the state, members of some leading Hindu organisations staged demonstrations and stopped vehicles carrying beef meant for animals at the Assam zoo in Guwahati. The organisations demanded that cow-slaughtering, as well as feeding of beef to the zoo animals, should be completely stopped across the state.

Guwahati: In an interesting development, members of several Hindutva organizations on Monday held a protest in Assam state zoo in Guwahati demanding the suspension of feeding beef to the animals in the zoo.

Several protesters intercepted a vehicle carrying animal food including beef and prevented it from entering the zoo premises, leading to chaos in front of the zoo.

The protestors demanded a complete ban on cow slaughter and insisted that none of the animals in the zoo should be fed with beef.

The zoo officials, however, clarified that there is a committee including three veterinarians who study the animal behaviour and then recommend their regular diet.

"We gove only those food recommended by our experts to the animals. The food we provide to our animals are listed approved by the Central Zoo Authority," said a Ranger of the zoo.

It may be mentioned that beef is a regular diet for some of the carnivorous animals.