Cow Will Not be National Animal: Govt Declares in Parliament

New Delhi: The government has no intention to recognise cow as the national animal replacing tiger, Union culture minister G Kishan Reddy told Parliament on Monday.

Reddy was replying to questions raised by BBJP MP Bhagirath Choudhary, who asked the culture ministry whether the government intends to recognise ‘Gaumata’ (cow), an integral part of Indian culture, as a national animal, considering protection and revival of the Indian and ‘Sanatan culture’ by bringing a legislation in Parliament.

Answering him, Reddy clarified that the Government of India had notified Tiger and Peacock as ‘National Animal’ and ‘National Bird’, respectively, and that both these had been included in the Schedule-I animals of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.”

“Government of India were not forthcoming in the official records of MoEF&CC for quite some time, the Ministry renotified Tiger and Peacock as ‘National Animal’ and National Bird’, respectively, on 30th May 2011,” he added.