SHAMBO is dead

I thought it rather sweet that wikipedia acknowledged the death of "Shambo," the sacred Hindu bull in Wales, among its list of the dead for 7/26/07. Shambo's bovine tuberculosis had been diagnosed in April and, despite religious objections and despite the offer of a home for the bull from a sanctuary in India, the Welsh government decided the six year old had to be "destroyed."

After the slaughter of the bull, Skanda Vale community leader Brother Alex said that a "nightmare" was just beginning for the Welsh assembly. Secretary General Ramesh Kallidai said "Ignorant people have chosen to desecrate our temple and have chosen to destroy life unnecessarily," and he wanted "to check how agricultural law can cater to the needs of sacred animals in Hindu temples in Britain." - wikipedia

This is another situation where I can understand all sides of this situation including the bull. I understand the fears the government felt about infection spreading. I understand the people's love for the bull, for whatever reason. And I understand that "sentient beings" have their value besides food and even friendship. But I'm not a vegetarian and I'm certainly not going to worship a bull anymore than any other animal. So, what do we do? Do we do nothing? Do we just wait till the bull dies of natural causes even though its continued existence may lead to an epidemic? Do we ship the bull off to India to plague their country? Do we carve around the TB lesions the autopsy found and barbecue the rest? That sounds tasty.

SHAMBO at wikipedia