Guwahati: There was a huge ruckus outside the Assam State Zoo as right-wing activists halted a vehicle carrying beef for the zoo animals. The anti-beef activists staged a 'dharna' right in front of the entrance to the zoo and shouted slogans, demanding a blanket ban on cow slaughter and that the animals in the zoo not be fed beef.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Range Officer of Zoo asked the protesters to forward their demands to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), which determines what kind of food materials are to be given to animals. The Range Officer said that if the CZA modifies the diet of the animals as per the demand of the activists, the zoo authorities will be happy to comply.
Reacting to the demand, Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya has said that the animals are being fed beef as it is "essential" for them as per the nutritious needs.
Suklabaidya said that some other states where beef is banned feed the buffalo meat to the animals. However, Assam does not have such a stock of buffalo meat, he said.
Currently, the animals are being given beef once a week, adding that unless an alternative is found, the animals will have to be fed the same.
Why do people want beef to be taken off the zoo's menu?
Cattle slaughter, especially cow slaughter is a controversial topic in India because of the cattle's traditional status as an endeared and respected living being to some sects of Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism while being considered an acceptable source of meat by Muslims as well as adherents of some other non-vedic, Abrahamic and other religions.
The Centre announced a nationwide ban on cow slaughter in May 2017. It is, however, still legal in Kerala, West Bengal, Arunachal, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.