I see that New Delhi’s stray cows may become a thing of the past. The Delhi High Court has passed an order offering 2 000 rupees which is around $60 a cow to rid the city of wandering bovines.
2 000 rupees is about a month’s wage so there are plenty of cowboys helping out. They’re riding around on motorbikes carrying sticks to herd the cattle off to the authorities. An estimated 35 000 cows and buffalo roam free in Delhi, sharing space with monkeys, camels and stray dogs.
From experience I can say it’s all a little surreal cycling through the streets of a capital city and having to manoeuvre around a cow or two.
At the moment authorities are finding it hard keeping pace with the flood of strays being handed over to state shelters.
My very first memories of India are walking out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport to see cows wandering through the car park.
While some might think that getting the cows off the street might take away some of the wonder of India, I can assure you that there’ll still be more than enough to surprise, excite and challenge any visitors to that wonderful country.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
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