After a year of protesting and lobbying by Hindu campaigners, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) have issued an official apology for the killing of a cow known as Gangotri on 13th December 2007 at a Hindu temple in Watford. As a reconciliatory token, they donated a cow to the temple.

A description of the incident reads somewhat like an assassination; RSPCA inspectors had entered the 78 acre premises of the “Bhaktivedanta Manor” and killed the cow by lethal injection, without letting the temple administration know beforehand. They chose a time when worshippers had gone for their afternoon prayers, so that they wouldn’t meet any opposition, then swiftly left the premises.

Obviously, these are strange actions for an organization which is supposed to prevent cruelty to animals! The rationale behind the actions of the RSPCA was that Gangotri had sustained an injury in a mating accident and was in pain, so putting her down was the best option. However vets employed by the temple were of the view that it was not necessary to kill her, and that she could be looked after carefully to alleviate her suffering.

The incident led to the formation of the “Justice for Gangotri Taskforce”, comprising of outraged Hare Krishna devotees with support from several other Hindu organizations. They had been lobbying the government and the RSPCA for a year that such incidents should not be allowed to take place.

The RSPCA agreed that the assassination style way in which Gangotri had been put down should have not taken place, but still maintain that their vets had acted within the law. “We recognize we offended religious sensibilities… we wanted to show that we want to work with Britain’s Hindus in the future. The RSPCA has so much in common with Britain’s Hindus when it comes to our attitudes towards animal welfare,” said an RSPCA spokesman.

“The Society, recognizing the hurt caused to the sentiments of these communities, has apologized for causing hurt and offence, and through positive dialogue we and the community have turned our disagreement into a forward looking and constructive agreement.”

The Gangotri incident also gave rise to a cow protection project known as “New Gokul”, set for completion in August 2009. The project will be built at a cost of £2.1 million, and aims to “demonstrate new ways of ethical, compassionate and sustainable farming.

Click here for previous coverage on slaying of Gangotri

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