Compassion opposes cruel ways of slaughtering animals in any place at any time regardless of any reason. We believe all slaughter must be conducted humanely. Animals must be stunned prior to slaughter using a method which causes immediate unconsciousness or, in the case of gas stunning, does not cause distress during the period before loss of consciousness.
There is no justification for taking an animal’s life inhumanely. There are no exceptions, including for religious purposes. Of course, we value religious freedom but we do not believe this includes practices causing animal suffering. This is why we lobby for all animals to be pre-stunned before slaughter, even in the case of religious slaughter, such as for Halal and Kosher requirements.
In the UK, a large proportion of animals slaughtered for Halal meat are stunned before slaughter whereas animals slaughtered for Kosher meat generally are not. We work with religious communities internationally, such as in Egypt and Jordan, to raise awareness of animal suffering in transportation and slaughter. It is important for me to make this clear because I want to state forcefully our opposition to the recent Hindu ritual slaughter of animals in Nepal. Quite simply, inhumane slaughter is unacceptable, whatever the apparent justification.
Every five years in November in the village of Bariyapur in southern Nepal, what is thought to be the world’s largest ritual sacrifice of animals attracts thousands of worshippers, many from neighbouring India. In the temple grounds, a two-day ceremony takes place to appease Gadhimai, a Hindu goddess of power, which includes a Ferris wheel, fortune-telling and stalls selling tea and snacks. Some 250,000 animals (e.g. pigs, buffaloes, goats, wild rats) and birds (e.g. chickens and pigeons) are ritually slaughtered by some 250 men licensed by the temple and armed with swords, axes and Kukri knives wrapped in red cloths.
The killing methods completely fail to address the most basic of animal welfare concerns. Reports suggest, for example, that no animal or bird is pre-stunned before slaughter. Their heads are chopped off by single or multiple blows. The bodies of dead animals and birds are not removed after they have been killed. This means that the remaining moments of those who have yet to be killed is with those who have just been slaughtered. Indeed, animals brought with their offspring witness their slaughter or orphaned babies run loose among the carnage after their mother’s death. Many of the animals are brought great distances without food, water and rest. Many fail to complete the journey or collapse and die after their arrival. The enclosed killing field, which is guarded by high walls and armed police, is no respite for these animals before they are killed. They are not offered any food, water or shelter.
The tragic plight of these animals attracted the attention of the world’s media. For example, The Guardian published a report and a photo essay.
Further local groups, including Animal Nepal, tenaciously campaigned against the Gadhimai slaughter. Compassion pledges to join with others around the world to make sure that there will not be a repeat of this inhumane slaughter in November 2014.
Please join with me in writing polite letters of protest (PDF 59KB) to the Nepalese Embassy in London encouraging their government to work with international organisations like Compassion and Nepalese groups like Animal Nepal to ensure that if any animal is to be ritually slaughtered in five years time they will be humanely stunned first.
Mr. Jhabindra P. Aryal
Charge d’Affaires
Embassy of Nepal
12A Kensington Palace Gardens
London
W8 4QU
Email: eon {at} nepembassy.org(.)uk
