No reprieve as temple bull faces slaughter

SHAMBO the temple bull was facing death last night after a Court of Appeal ruled his slaughter was “justified”.

The six-year-old bull, revered by Hindu monks at the Skanda Vale Community in Llanpumsaint, west Wales, was given a reprieve last week, but yesterday three appeal judges unanimously overturned that decision and refused to delay the death sentence.

The community asked for seven days in order to make one last bid to save Shambo’s life by petitioning the House of Lords, the highest court in the land. However, Lord Justice Pill, sitting in London with Lord Justice Thomas and Lord Justice Lloyd, rejected the request, saying they were bearing in mind “the urgency of the situation and public health needs”.

One of the monks, Brother Alex, said: “Obviously we are disappointed with the decision. We will review our position and see what our options are.”

The appeal judges, who had heard the case in Cardiff last week, gave their full backing to a decision of the Welsh Assembly Government, which served the slaughter order in May after Shambo tested positive for exposure to bovine tuberculosis (BTB). They allowed the government’s appeal against a ruling by Judge Gary Hickinbottom sparing Shambo.

Lord Justice Pill said former rural affairs minister Jane Davidson acted lawfully when she refused to make an exception for Shambo as a sacred bull. The judge said: “I have come to the conclusion that the minister was entitled to make the decision she did in regard to the very considerable problem presented by BTB.