Save our Shambo! Hindus to form human chain to save sacred Welsh bull from slaughter

But to bureaucrats, Shambo the bull is another disease-ridden animal whose continued existence threatens Britain's fragile cattle industry.

The five-year-old Friesian has lived at a Hindu temple in West Wales since his birth. He is in good health and is well cared for, his keepers say.

But Shambo has been served with a slaughter notice after apparently testing positive for the bovine form of tuberculosis during a routine examination.

Officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs say he must be killed to safeguard public and animal health.

However, Hindus at the Skanda Vale Temple in Camarthen are horrified.

His slaughter is utterly at odds with their religion. And besides, the test results were inconclusive, they say.

In protest, Hindus across the country are threatening to form a human chain around Shambo to prevent his execution, scheduled for next week.

Ramesh Kallidai, secretary-general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said killing a sacred temple cow or bull was "highly sacrilegious".

"To have a sacred bull from the temple slaughtered is completely unthinkable. It strikes at the very core of our beliefs.

"It is important that governments understand that if there is a way out of the situation, they should look at that."

Shambo is now in isolation in a specially- constructed shrine within the temple.

He will never enter the food chain and can be kept in isolation for the rest of his life to prevent the spread of the disease, Mr Kallidai added.

"Shambo is in a very healthy condition. If TB does develop in him, given appropriate care he can be expected to make a full recovery.

"The temple has sought professional advice to ensure that robust measures are taken to isolate Shambo and minimise the spread of disease.

"Killing Shambo will violate our faith tradition and desecrate our temple.

"I hope a compromise can be reached, but there are thousands of Hindus who will be willing to come here and help us protect Shambo.' Swami Suryananda, of the temple, which is also known as the Community of the Many Names of God, said: "We understand and appreciate Defra's position with regards to public health and containing the spread of bovine TB.

"We have been advised that there is provision for permission to treat and vaccinate any animal identified as having TB."

But requests for a reprieve have been rejected.

A Welsh Assembly spokesman said: "TB in cattle is an infectious disease that has a significant impact on the health and welfare of the national cattle herd in Wales.

"It is transmissible to humans and other mammals, which means it has serious implications beyond the health of cattle.

"Wales implements a control policy, based on testing and the slaughter of animals believed to be infected, to protect human and animal health.

"An animal kept by the Community of the Many Names of God has tested positive, and the case is being dealt with in the usual way."

Graham Brooks, of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, said: "A cow or bull which has been exposed to TB bacteria will always pose some risk of infecting other animals.

"There is no vaccination and no cure in this country. It is impossible to isolate any animal completely."

Shambo is a name used to describe the compassion and mercy of Lord Shiva, one of the principle forms of God in the Hindu religion, known for his compassion and mercy. It is a Sanskrit term meaning "bringer of joy".

The cow is considered sacred in Hinduism. The animal is thought to be symbolic of abundance, of the sanctity of life and of an earth that gives while asking nothing in return.

Most Hindus respect the cow as a matriarchal figure for her gentle qualities and her provision of milk and other products important in a largely vegetarian diet.

Bulls are respected for their work ploughing the fields.

Hindus do not worship the cow but the animal holds an honoured place in society. Most Hindus do not eat beef.

In strongly Hindu nations such as India and Nepal, bovine milk continues to hold a central place in religious rituals.

In honour of their exalted status, cows often roam free.

In some places, it is considered good luck to give a cow a snack or fruit before breakfast.

Where there is a ban on cow slaughter, a citizen can be sent to jail for killing or injuring a cow.