Cow given to temple gives birth

The calf's mother Aditi was given to the temple (Picture from the RSPCA/PA)

A cow given to a Hindu group by the RSPCA, to replace one which was put down, has given birth.

The calf was born at Bhaktivedanta Manor temple in Watford, Hertfordshire, and named Gangotri, after the cow put down in 2007 due to poor health.

Hundreds of Hindus, who see the cow as sacred, were outraged at the decision by RSPCA vets and protested outside its headquarters in West Sussex.

The charity apologised for causing offence, but stood by its decision.

At the time of her death, Gangotri had been injured for more than a year and suffered from bed sores because she could no longer stand.

But the killing was condemned by Hindus.

The first Gangotri was a 13-year-old Belgian blue-jersey cross

The RSPCA apologised in December and donated the calf's mother, Aditi, to the farm as a gesture of reconciliation.

Chairman of the Gangotri Task Force Kapil Dudakia said: "The whole community is ecstatic with this tremendous news.

"Only last month we saw the arrival of Aditi to the Temple in all her splendour and the birth of Gangotri has brought in an auspicious era for all our diverse communities to celebrate life and a new beginning together."

Secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain Ramesh Kallidai said: "It is a very befitting conclusion to this saga."

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