October 12, 2020: A commotion broke out at the entrance of the Assam State Zoo on Monday morning over feeding beef to zoo animals.

A few members from an organisation stopped a vehicle carrying beef for the inmates of the zoo at the entrance. They did not let the vehicle in and sat at the entrance shouting slogans demanding ban on cow slaughter.

Later, the Range Officer of the zoo told the protesters to give their representation so that it could be forwarded to the Central Zoo Authority. He said that it’s the CZA which prescribes what should be given to which animal and zoos have to strictly follow that chart. "If the CZA allows, then we have no objection in changing the diet," he said.

Meanwhile, after the incident, forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya reacted and said that beef was essential for the animals. He said that unlike other states where beef was banned, Assam has not enough stock of buffalo meat. He informed that beef is presently given once a week. "Unless and untill some alternative is found by the scientists, beef will have to be given to the animals," said the minister.