The animal sacrifice–public health nexus in Nepal

Abstract

Participants in religious festivals have practiced animal sacrifice as a core part of Hinduism for hundreds of years—at a small scale by individuals and at large scale at major festivals. Butchers frequently perform sacrificial slaughter openly, in sight and sound of other animals with little or no guidance from or adherence to hygienic standards, which are poor or non-existent. One Health principles could guide development of interventions to protect human and animal health and welfare from these practices, but this concept is poorly understood in Nepal. Animal welfare organizations and international outcry have prompted some action through the Supreme Court, but the result fell short of a ban and little has been done in the face of religious considerations. Public health agencies and policymakers must act to implement effective regulations and enforce laws to prevent the human, animal, and environmental health risks surrounding these inhumane and unhygienic practices in order to ensure the protection of animal welfare and public health.