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Shambo to be taken for slaughter 'Sacred' Shambo faces slaughter
(about 6 hours later)
Shambo the "sacred" bullock at the centre of a legal battle is due to be taken away for slaughter.Shambo the "sacred" bullock at the centre of a legal battle is due to be taken away for slaughter.
Hindu monks at the Skanda Vale temple in Llanpumsaint, west Wales, have been told he will be collected at 0800 BST.Hindu monks at the Skanda Vale temple in Llanpumsaint, west Wales, have been told he will be collected at 0800 BST.
On Monday, the multi-faith community lost a High Court bid to save Shambo, who has tested positive for bovine TB.On Monday, the multi-faith community lost a High Court bid to save Shambo, who has tested positive for bovine TB.
The Welsh Assembly Government appealed for co-operation, but the monks have warned that officials will have to interrupt worship to remove the animal.The Welsh Assembly Government appealed for co-operation, but the monks have warned that officials will have to interrupt worship to remove the animal.
Brother Michael said that on Thursday morning there would be a lot of people at the temple enclosure where the six-year-old Friesian is being kept. Early on Thursday a car was blocking the road to the community in Carmarthenshire, and inspectors arriving to take away the animal were also facing a locked gate and locked temple door to reach him.
"They will have to physically desecrate a temple to get him," he said. Dozens of supporters were arriving to carry out a ceremony celebrating the sanctity of life at the temple enclosure where the six-year-old Friesian is being kept.
We were hoping that by showing Shambo around somebody somewhere might intervene and act to prevent this Spokesman for the Hindu Forum of Britain
"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."
And Brother Alex added the community would not allow Shambo to be taken away without a warrant. Brother Alex added the community would not allow Shambo to be taken away without a warrant.
We were hoping that by showing Shambo around somebody somewhere might intervene and act to prevent this Spokesman for the Hindu Forum of Britain Shambo supporter Anjna who had travelled from Birmingham for his final hours at the temple said:"The intention is everyone here is going to be in front of Shambo and pray.
"That is the most we can do because it seems our protests and appeals have fallen on deaf ears."
Online petition
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.
But they have faced opposition from many quarters, including the farming sector, where the animal is seen as a TB risk to livestock. 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, having tested positive for TB, Shambo is seen as a disease risk to livestock.
An assembly government spokesman confirmed it "intended to remove the affected bullock from the premises on Thursday, 26 July".An assembly government spokesman confirmed it "intended to remove the affected bullock from the premises on Thursday, 26 July".
"This has been a difficult case for all involved, but our aim continues to be the protection of human and animal health," he added."This has been a difficult case for all involved, but our aim continues to be the protection of human and animal health," he added.
Shambo has been kept in a special enclosure for several weeks
"We appeal to the community to co-operate fully in order to minimise distress to the animal, and to ensure the safety of all concerned.""We appeal to the community to co-operate fully in order to minimise distress to the animal, and to ensure the safety of all concerned."
Other Hindu leaders had remained hopeful the sacred bullock might escape its fate.Other Hindu leaders had remained hopeful the sacred bullock might escape its fate.
Shambo has been kept in a special enclosure for several weeks
"Up to the point when it was confirmed now, I think everybody was hoping that it just wouldn't happen," said a spokesman for the Hindu Forum of Britain."Up to the point when it was confirmed now, I think everybody was hoping that it just wouldn't happen," said a spokesman for the Hindu Forum of Britain.
"We were hoping that by showing Shambo around somebody somewhere might intervene and act to prevent this."We were hoping that by showing Shambo around somebody somewhere might intervene and act to prevent this.
"But it has been confirmed to us that he will be collected at 0800 on Thursday so that he can be taken away for slaughter."
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, leaving the monks "pretty much at the end of the road" in their legal fight to save the bullock. But on Monday, his ruling was overturned by the appeal court in London.