This past Saturday a high-ranking forestry official who oversaw two lions in the West Bengal captive lion breeding program was fired. The lions had been living together for years, but the male lion was given the name Akbar after a medieval Muslim emperor. The lioness was given the name Sita, after a Hindu goddess.
This was considered “blasphemy” by a leader of a far right Hindu political party. He called it an “assault on religious beliefs of millions of Hindus.”
The lion and lioness did not comment.
Aren’t you happy that the U.S. isn’t the only country with crazy religious fanatics?
Info for this post was taken from Sameer Yasir, “Lion’s Name Draws Anger From Hindus,” New York Times, (Feb. 28, 2024), p. A9
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