At the Animal Rahat sanctuary this month, the current residents were joined by two newcomers. Barsya is 19 years old. Called by his owner, Mr. Yadav, to treat Barsya for various wounds, the Rahat team realized that the poor bullock was much too debilitated to work even a second longer. They talked Mr. Yadav into letting him retire, and Barsya is now enjoying his remaining years in the team’s care. Barsya has a cataract in one eye, but it is not causing him any pain, and Rahat’s vets will watch it carefully.

Another bullock, Raman, had been with his owner, Mr. Shaikh, since he was born 22 years ago, when Mr. Shaikh was still a child. When the team found Raman during routine scouting, Raman had no shelter from the elements and was grossly neglected and underfed. When the Rahat team spoke to Mr. Shaikh, he said he could not afford to provide this bullock with proper care and was considering selling him for slaughter. The staff talked Mr. Shaikh into giving custody of Raman to Animal Rahat, sparing this dear bullock from a painful and terrifying death in a crude slaughterhouse.