Humane Society International (HSI), India and People for Animals (PFA) have brought at least 400 buffaloes and goats to ‘rescue’, which were said to be killed in a mass animal sacrifice ritual in Gadhimai, Nepal. Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center at Jamnagar established by Reliance Industries. HSI, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that among the more than 750 animals rescued by HSI, India and PFA along with the Central Armed Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, 347 goats and 74 buffaloes.
The animal was seized at the Indo-Nepal border check post on December 8 and 9, the day before the Gadhimai ritual was to be performed, the statement said. Other rescued animals included 328 pigeons that were “released back into the wild, and two chickens that were reared locally”, it said.
The Gadhimai festival, celebrated in the name of the goddess every five years in the month of November-December, is considered as the biggest religious sacrifice festival in the world at the Gadhimai temple in the village of Bariarpur in the Bara district of Nepal.
“A team of 10 veterinarians and para-veterinarians from Bhandara reached Bihar on December 8 and carefully examined the animals before they started their journey to Jamnagar,” an HSI spokesperson said in a statement.
Alokparna Sengupta, Managing Director, HSI, India, said, “For these animals, we were able to save Gadhimai from sacrifice. There is no better place than Vantaa to give safe shelter to abused animals and those who end up in dire situations. ” According to HSI, “most of these animals enter Nepal illegally from India because of the border”.
Vantara is an animal rescue center established by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar.
It was inaugurated in February this year and is headed by Anant Ambani.