400 rescued animals from the Gadhimai Festival sacrifice ritual to find refuge at Anant Ambani’s Vantara Rehabilitation Center | Photo Credits: HSI/India
Around 400 animals rescued from being slaughtered at the world’s largest animal sacrifice ritual at Nepal’s Gadhimai Temple, will receive shelter at Vantara, India’s largest animal rehabilitation centre. Animal activists had saved 750 animals while they were being transported to the Gadhimai Festival, out of which 400 big animals will now receive care at Anant Ambani’s Vantara.
Held every five years in the Bara district of Nepal, Gadhimai is the world’s largest animal sacrifice event, where around 5 lakh animals, including buffalo, goats, pigs, pigeons and chickens, are beheaded as sacrifice to appease the goddess Gadhimai. This year, estimates suggest sacrifice of 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh animals, including 6,000 buffaloes.
400 rescued animals from the Gadhimai Festival sacrifice ritual to find refuge at Anant Ambani’s Vantara Rehabilitation Center | Photo Credits: HSI/India
Although devotees sacrificed a huge number of animals as part of religious beliefs, animal charities like Humane Society International/India and People For Animals did a commendable job by rescuing animals being transported from india. The volunteers from these NGOs assisted the border forces and rescued more than 750 animals.
While 328 pigeons were released back into the wild and two chicken were adopted locally, 347 goats and 74 buffaloes have found their forever homes at Vantara in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. Founded by Anant Ambani, Vantara will provide a peaceful and dignified life to these animals which were saved from a tragic fate.
400 rescued animals from the Gadhimai Festival sacrifice ritual to find refuge at Anant Ambani’s Vantara Rehabilitation Center | Photo Credits: HSI/India
On Sunday, a team of ten veterinarians and para-veterinarians from Vantara reached Bihar and carefully examined the animals before they began their journey from the sanctuary. At Vantara, the animals will receive further veterinary care, including necessary medical treatment to help them recover from the hardships they have endured.
“We received the rehabilitation request from organisations which are engaged in rescue efforts. Since the animals are in huge numbers, it needed extraordinary intervention and that is what we do at Vantara. These animals also deserve to live a good life and therefore it was vital for Vantara to provide this kind of support. After our CEO’s approval, a team has reached Bihar and has started the procedure to bring the animals to Vantara.” said an official associated with Vantara.
Alokparna Sengupta, managing director of HSI/India, said, “This is the best possible outcome for these animals who we were able to rescue from the Gadhimai sacrifice. There could be no better places than Vantara to provide safe haven for animals who have been abused and who would have met a horrific end. This collective effort marks a major victory in the fight against animal sacrifice and other forms of animal cruelty and sends a powerful message about the importance of protecting and respecting animals worldwide.”
Gauri Maulekhi, trustee at PFA, said, “This is a new chapter of hope for the animals. We are filled with joy knowing they have been saved from the horrors of the Gadhimai sacrifice and will now live and flourish in a safe, loving environment. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Vantara for their generosity in offering a forever home to these goats and buffaloes. Their successful relocation will ensure the best possible long-term care and well-being for these animals”
