News Home
UK
World
Society
- Health
- Environment
- Religion
- Law & order
- Education
Politics
Business & Money
Science & Technology
Sport
Arts & Entertainment
Weather

Shambo timeline

Last Modified: 26 Jul 2007
By: Channel 4 News

Final prayers are being held for Shambo, the Hindu cow, who is to be taken for slaughter today after being diagnosed with TB.

Desperate attempts to save Shambo the sacred bull from death have failed. Here is how the battle to save Shambo unfolded:

3 May 2007 Shambo tests positive for bovine tuberculosis at the Skanda Vale temple in Llanpumsaint, near Carmarthen.

3 May The same day an "intention to slaughter notice" is issued giving a date for Shambo's possible demise as within a week.

4 May Monks backed by the Hindu Forum of Britain launch a high-profile campaign to save the sacred bullock, including an online petition.

10 May Monks reveal that 4,000 have already signed an on-line petition calling for Shambo to be allowed to live.

11 May Christianne Glossop, the leading vet in Wales, visits Shambo to look at the way the bull is being kept. Separately officials say the bull is to be slaughtered in 10 days.

21 May Monks at the Skanda Vale Temple set up a webcam, dubbed Moo-Tube, allowing supporters of Shambo to keep an eye on him.

3 June Lawyers for the monks announce they intend to seek an injunction to halt the slaughter of Shambo.

15 June International animal expert David Taylor exams Shambo and says slaughter would be "scandalous. He adds the risk of infection to other animals or people is "zero."

Shambo Q&A

Who is Shambo?

Shambo (lit: 'bringer of joy') is a six year black Fresian bull that has been adopted since a calf by a Hindu community in Wales. Shambo lives in the Hindu Skanda Vale temple in Llanpumsain and has been listed for slaughtering.

Why is Shambo to be destroyed?

Shambo failed a routine test for bovine tuberculosis and Defra has ruled the bull must be slaughtered to prevent the risk of TB spreading to other animals. Last year over 5,000 cattle were slaughtered in Wales to prevent TB.

Why are the monks protesting?

The community of Skanda Vale believe all life is sacred and it is their duty to save the life of their bull. They have protested that the test was not 100% conclusive and have appealed for a second more detailed tests. They have also brought in their own experts who have ruled that Shambo was in good health and slaughtering it would be 'scandalous'.

26 June The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) inform the monks that a date in early July is to be set for slaughter.

29 June Lawyers for the monks meet WAG officials to make final representations which are rejected.

3 July The then rural affairs minister Jane Davidson announces in the Assembly: "I have decided that putting down the bullock is the only means of completely eliminating the risk." (Of transmitting TB).

6 July Lawyers for the Skanda Vale monks announce a legal challenge to the Welsh Assembly decision will take place in one week.

13 July High Court Judge Mr Gary Hickinbottom hears a legal challenge by the Skanda Vale monks to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) slaughter order.

16 July The High Court Judge quashes the two separate orders to slaughter Shambo. The Welsh Assembly Government immediately announces it will appeal.

20 July Lords Justice Pill, Lloyd and Thomas sit in Cardiff to hear the WAG appeal against the quash order.

23 July They reconvene in London where they uphold the Welsh Assembly Government appeal stating the slaughter is "justified."

24 July Hindu leaders launch a last gasp bid to save Shambo, appealing to the WAG to carry out a 2nd bTB test in the hope it will prove negative.

24 July The bWAG rejects the appeal and the final hope for Shambo's survival is exhausted.

25 July Veterinary inspectors were denied entry to the community shortly before 9am.