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Shambo slaughter vets turned away Police at temple to remove Shambo
(about 5 hours later)
Hindu monks have turned away government officials who arrived to take Shambo the "sacred" bullock for slaughter as they said they did not have a warrant. Police have arrived to help move Shambo the "sacred" bullock from the multi-faith Skanda Vale community in west Wales.
More than a hundred protesters were taking part in a religious ceremony at a temple at the multi-faith Skanda Vale community in west Wales. Earlier, government officials had failed to gain access to Shambo's enclosure as more than 100 protesters were worshipping there.
The Welsh Assembly Government said Shambo had to be destroyed after testing positive for bovine TB. The Welsh Assembly Government has said Shambo had to be destroyed after testing positive for bovine TB.
His slaughter on Thursday would bring to an end a protracted legal battle. At around 1630 BST, police started removing people from the enclosure.
Temple monks were originally told he would be collected at 0800 BST, and began their protest early outside a temple in which Shambo is housed, isolated from other animals. Officials served warrants to the temple shortly after 1400 BST, hours after they had been turned away by Hindu monks in an initial visit.
Assembly government officials turned up to request entry on to the site but were refused and will now have to apply at a magistrates court for an official warrant. And at around 1600 BST, more than 20 police officers moved onto the site from their position outside the gates, where they had been waiting with an animal trailer and four riot vans.
The slaughter of the six-year-old Freisian, who is officially registered as Bullock UK 742266 200001, on Thursday would bring to an end a protracted legal battle.
Temple monks were originally told he would be collected at 0800 BST on Thursday, and began their protest early outside a temple in which Shambo is housed, isolated from other animals.
Assembly government officials turned up to request entry to the site but were refused as they did not have a warrant, and they returned with two official warrants shortly after 1400 BST.
Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation Welsh Assembly Government spokesmanOur concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation Welsh Assembly Government spokesman
A spokesman said: "We were aware this may happen but we have to be denied access before we can obtain a warrant. The community were informed that, if access was refused, a warrant would be sought. The warrants give them permission to enter within one calendar month.
"We are monitoring the situation at Skanda Vale very carefully this morning and are very concerned that the bullock may be getting distressed by the noise and activity around him. But officials have now left the site again after failing to gain access to the site for a second time and are now seeking advice on how to proceed.
"Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation. We appeal to the community and the media to facilitate this by allowing our staff to get on with their work." Earlier, a spokesman said they had had to be denied access before they could obtain a warrant.
"We are monitoring the situation at Skanda Vale very carefully and are very concerned that the bullock may be getting distressed by the noise and activity around him," he said.
"Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation."
The action comes after the multi-faith community in Carmarthenshire, finally lost the High Court bid to save Shambo.The action comes after the multi-faith community in Carmarthenshire, finally lost the High Court bid to save Shambo.
The Welsh Assembly Government appealed for co-operation, but the monks have warned that officials will have to interrupt worship to remove the animal. Police officers moved onto the temple site at around 1600 BST
Pilgrims assembled outside the temple where Shambo is housed The Welsh Assembly Government has said it is aiming to protect human and animal health and has appealed for co-operation, but the monks have warned that officials will have to interrupt worship to remove the animal.
Early on Thursday a picket blocked the road outside the site at Llanpumsaint, and inspectors arriving to take away the animal were also facing a locked gate and locked temple door. But supporters from as far afield as New Zealand and Switzerland were taking part in a pooja ceremony celebrating the sanctity of life at the temple enclosure where the animal is being kept.
Supporters from as far afield as New Zealand and Switzerland were taking part in a pooja ceremony celebrating the sanctity of life at the temple enclosure where the six-year-old Friesian is being kept.
"They will have to physically desecrate a temple to get him," said one of the monks, Brother Michael."They will have to physically desecrate a temple to get him," said one of the monks, Brother Michael.
"He's locked here and we will be having an act of worship in front of where he is."He's locked here and we will be having an act of worship in front of where he is.
"If the Welsh Assembly Government want to take him out of there, they will have to interrupt an act of worship.""If the Welsh Assembly Government want to take him out of there, they will have to interrupt an act of worship."
Protester Dave Husseina, from Oxford, said: "I'm prepared to put myself in front of the line to protect the bull."
Shambo monks wrong, says expertShambo monks wrong, says expert
Protester Dave Husseina, from Oxford, said: "I would probably put myself in the way because I know I wouldn't be at risk from this in any possible way so yeah I'm prepared to put myself in front of the line to protect the bull."
The monks have fought a campaign since a TB test returned positive in April, saying they were guarding against Shambo infecting other animals by keeping him in a separate pen.The monks have fought a campaign since a TB test returned positive in April, saying they were guarding against Shambo infecting other animals by keeping him in a separate pen.
An online petition has attracted 20,000 signatures and the bullock's supporters have also been able to keep up to date with his movements via a webcam.An online petition has attracted 20,000 signatures and the bullock's supporters have also been able to keep up to date with his movements via a webcam.
But the monks have faced opposition from many quarters, including the farming sector, where Shambo is seen as a disease risk to livestock.But the monks have faced opposition from many quarters, including the farming sector, where Shambo is seen as a disease risk to livestock.
Brian Walters, vice president of the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW), said: "We have to follow the rules like everybody else and I won't say we don't have sympathy because you know the farmers who've lost cattle do sympathise. Brian Walters, vice president of the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW), said: "We have to follow the rules like everybody else and I won't say we don't have sympathy because the farmers who've lost cattle do sympathise.
"They go through these emotions. I spoke to a farmer on the field yesterday and he'd lost 80 cattle over the last couple of months and you know there wasn't any television coverage of 80 cattle going off his farm but yet he had to face that and was quite emotional."
An assembly government spokesman said: "This has been a difficult case for all involved, but our aim continues to be the protection of human and animal health," he added.
Last week, a High Court judge gave the community hope when he ruled that two slaughter orders for Shambo "were unlawful and will be quashed".Last week, a High Court judge gave the community hope when he ruled that two slaughter orders for Shambo "were unlawful and will be quashed".
But on Monday, his ruling was overturned by the appeal court in London.But on Monday, his ruling was overturned by the appeal court in London.
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