Massive Nepali animal slaughter condemned

Updated November 23, 2009 20:46:34

Thousands of Hindu devotees have flocked to a village in Nepal ahead of this week's planned sacrifice of around half a million animals in a ceremony condemned by animal rights activists, including French actress Brigitte Bardot.

Priests are preparing for the slaughter of more than 15,000 buffaloes and 300,000 birds, goats and sheep during the event, which starts Tuesday and is thought to be the biggest ritual sacrifice anywhere in the world. Nepal's government has refused to put a stop to what it says is a centuries old religious tradition.

Presenter: Claudette Werden
Speaker: Pramada Shah, director of Animal Nepal