Vantara to provide lifelong care for 400 animals rescued by Sashastra Seema Bal and Government of Bihar from illegal animal sacrifice

Press Release, Dec 13, 2024, 12:49 PM IST

Jamnagar, Gujarat: Vantara’s care center for rescued domesticated animals, founded by visionary philanthropist Anant Ambani, is preparing to provide a permanent home for 400 animals, including 74 buffaloes and 326 goats, rescued from the cruel animal sacrifices linked to the Gadhimai festival. This rescue operation was spearheaded by India’s lead intelligence agency, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), with significant support from the Government of Bihar. The animals, illegally transported from various northern states of India to Nepal for sacrifice, were intercepted by SSB personnel with vital assistance from two of India’s leading animal welfare organizations, People for Animals (PFA) and Humane Society International (HSI).

Vantara’s veterinarians, who examined the rescued animals, reported that they endured grueling transport for days without food or water. The animals will now receive essential care at Vantara’s sanctuary, which is already home to many rescued domesticated animals. Among them, 21 young goats requiring specialized attention will be transferred to the ‘Happy Home Sanctuary’ in Dehradun, managed by PFA, Uttarakhand.”

Gauri Maulekhi, Founder of People for Animals Public Policy Foundation, highlighted the significance of the rescue:

“The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Government of Bihar played a pivotal role in intercepting illegal animal transport under exceptionally difficult circumstances. In this rare and critical situation, our teams, in collaboration with the SSB, successfully rescued these animals, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to law enforcement and the protection of vulnerable lives. We are deeply grateful to Shri Anant Ambani ji’s Vantara for stepping in to provide crucial rehabilitation support, as this exceptional case required such extraordinary intervention.”

The Gadhimai festival, held near the Indo-Nepal border, is known for being the world’s largest ritual animal sacrifice, with over 500,000 animals slaughtered in 2014 alone. Most of these animals were illegally transported from India, primarily from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand enduring cruelty along the way. Despite several Supreme Court directives to curb cross-border animal trafficking, including prohibiting transport without export licenses and mandating enforcement by border forces like the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), illegal trafficking continues. This rescue underscores the ongoing challenges of addressing ritual animal sacrifices and the collective efforts required to uphold animal welfare and enforce laws against such practices.