Animal Welfare in Nepal

What is it about?

For many Nepalese the cow is sacred and its slaughter is forbidden. Other animals are held in less esteem, their slaughter is not proscribed and indeed many are sacrificed during religious festivals. Limited financial and material resources, inadequate feed supplies, poor access to animal health services, absence of appropriate legislation and ignorance of the needs of livestock as sentient beings greatly compromise welfare and, indeed, lead to inhumane treatment. This paper reviews the welfare status of various groups of animals including food-producing stock, transport and draught animals, street dogs, experimental animals and captive elephants and wildlife. The presence and impact of animal welfare charities are presented (Supplementary material provides details of the activities of several charities). Suggestions for the betterment of welfare are discussed but the prognosis for improved animal welfare in the country is not encouraging especially in view of the poverty of the people and their own struggle for survival.

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Why is it important?

This is the only comprehensive published paper on animal welfare in Nepal. It brings the appalling state of welfare to the notice of politicians, policy makers and scientists in the hope that they will endevour to improve the ot of the valuable resource .

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