Stakeholders demand separate animal welfare law on World Animal Day

On the occasion of World Animal Day, stakeholders working in animal welfare have demanded that animals be recognised in law as sentient beings.

They have also demanded that animal welfare not be limited to the animal service law, and that a separate animal welfare law be enacted. These demands were raised at an interaction organised by Animal Nepal with journalists on Sunday.

Programme coordinator Sulakshana Rana said that if animals are accepted as feeling pain and fear, a separate law is needed for their welfare. According to her, animal services and animal welfare have different purposes, so welfare should not be placed as just one chapter of a single law.

The Animal Service and Animal Welfare Bill, 2083, advanced by the government, covers subjects such as livestock farming business, food safety, animal production, sale, and import and export.

World Animal Day is observed every year on October 4. In Nepal, where animals are worshipped, a separate law for their protection has still not been made.