Dozens of protesters are staging a religious ceremony at a Hindu temple in west Wales ahead of a "sacred" bullock being taken away for slaughter.
More than a hundred protesters are staging a religious ceremony at a Hindu temple ahead of a "sacred" bullock being taken away for slaughter.
Welsh Assembly Government inspectors are expected at the Skanda Vale community to collect Shambo.
Assembly government inspectors are expected at the Skanda Vale community in west Wales to collect Shambo.
He has been at the centre of a legal battle since he tested positive for bovine TB three months ago.
He has been at the centre of a legal battle since he tested positive for bovine TB three months ago.
Temple monks were told he would be collected at 0800 BST, and a religious ceremony is being staged in protest.
Temple monks were told he would be collected at 0800 BST, and a religious ceremony is being staged in protest.
On Monday, the multi-faith community finally lost the High Court bid to save Shambo.
On Monday, the multi-faith community 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.
The Welsh Assembly Government appealed for co-operation, but the monks have warned that officials will have to interrupt worship to remove the animal.
We were hoping that by showing Shambo around somebody somewhere might intervene and act to prevent this Spokesman for the Hindu Forum of Britain
I won't say we don't have sympathy because you know the farmers who've lost cattle do sympathise Brian Walters, FUW
Early on Thursday a picket blocking the road outside community at Llanpumsaint, and inspectors arriving to take away the animal were also facing a locked gate and locked temple door to reach him.
Early on Thursday a picket blocking the road outside community at Llanpumsaint, and inspectors arriving to take away the animal were also facing a locked gate and locked temple door to reach him.
Supporters from as far afield as New Zealand and Switzerland were taking part in a ceremony celebrating the sanctity of life at the temple enclosure where the six-year-old Friesian is being kept.
Supporters from as far afield as New Zealand and Switzerland were taking part in a 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."
Shambo has been kept in a special enclosure for several weeks
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.
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.
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."
"That is the most we can do because it seems our protests and appeals have fallen on deaf ears."
Online petition
Another protester Dave Asainer, from Oxford, said: "I'm not going to do anything silly like attack police or anything like that but I will stand with them and see what happens, that's all.
"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.
Television coverage
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.
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.
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.
"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.
He added:"We welcome the publicity TB has at the moment because it is an ongoing problem and it has to be dealt with in Wales as soon as possible."
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
Monks and their supporters are taking part in a protest
"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.
"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.
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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