Which should be the national animal - Tiger or Cow? See what our readers has to say

With India's population being predominantly Hindu, replacing Tiger with Cow as national animal is justifiable. The move shall also help in protecting sacred cows from being slaughtered. I support Cow becoming our national animal.

G Kumar, Private Employee, Kazipet

In a country where Hindus identify Cow as sacred and auspicious. There is nothing wrong in honouring the majority people's sentiments. To me, it's a good move to name Cow as national animal.

G Swathi, Homemaker, Hanamkonda

India only once changed the national animal from Lion to Tiger on the grounds that Tigers were found all over India and Lions were restricted only to Gujarat. Since the whole country worships Cow, I argue that the government should declare it as a National Animal.

Siddharth K Advocate, Hyderabad

If the Central government will declare Cow as a national animal, the Opposition parties may oppose it. There is a need to protect cows. Many states in the country have brought laws against cow slaughtering.

B Ajay Kanth, Private employee, Ponnur town

Cow is the symbol of Indian cultural evolution. It helped human civilisation even during adversity. Its products have a lot of medical values. Obviously, Cow is a better choice as a national animal.

Dr Kiran Madhala, HoD, Anesthesia, Govt Medical College, Nizamabad

We consider Cow as a mother hence we call her Goumata. Small farmers get their livelihood by rearing cows and others use its urine and dung for organic farming. Killing and consuming cow meat is inexcusable. With this move, there should be some protection for them.

Sudhasis Sahu Assistant Travel Manager, Odisha

Tiger is the king of all animals. So, it is better to continue as the national animal. There is no need to change the national animal. I appeal Central government to continue Tiger as the National animal.

NV Dayakar, Businessman, Khammam

The Goumata (Cow) is the mark of shanti. It is time to change the National Animal from Tiger to a Cow. Cow is the holy animal, it can't be harmful. The government should announce Cow as the national animal instead of Tiger.

P Surekha, Homemaker, Khammam

Announcing Cow as a national animal can be called as an attempt to saffronising the secular country. BJP wants to create a vote bank of Hindus by winning their hearts with this proposal.

R Krishna Prasad, Scheduled Caste Federation, National President

Cow is a sacred and holy animal with spiritual identity for the Hindus. As India is a country with unity in diversity, making a sacred animal of one religion as national animal is not right. Cow as a national animal is against the secular nature of the country.

Dr Jaya Prakash Reddy, Nalgonda

Cow is the symbol of Indian cultural evolution. It helped human civilisation even during adversity. Its products have a lot of medical values. Obviously, Cow is a better choice as a national animal.

Dr Kiran Madhala, HoD, Anesthesia, Govt Medical College, Nizamabad

We are living in a country where we treat the Cow as a mother and respect it. Cow should be made our national animal. I am from Dalit community, but for me, Cow is respectful. I support the government in this.

Javvaji Dileep, student

If it is regarded as national animal beef consumption becomes sacrilege. There will be clashes among beef eaters and non-beef eaters. In order to maintain communal harmony, Cows should not be declared as a national animal.

APJ Vinu, Psychologist, Kakinada

The Cow has been held in high esteem and all Hindu scriptures extol the holiness of the cow. Its presence is indispensable on all important occasions both in house-warming and on the tenth day of a deceased man's ritual.

G Hymavathi, Private School Teacher, Kakinada

In a Hindu dominated country India, Cow occupies supreme place for its religious significance. People strongly believe that worship of the cow brings prosperity and happiness in the families of health and wealth.

AVD Menta Rao, RSS Kutumb Prabodhan member, Kakinada

Cow is a holy animal for Hindus. The government should recognize the importance of cows and take steps to protect cows. The Central government may not consider this demand at present.

V Shyam Vara Prasad, retired employee,Guntur

Cow has a high status as per Hindu religious ideology

since time immemorial due to its sacredness in all aspects like its milk, urine, etc. As cows need more statutory protection, it should receive the national animal status.

Lakshunnaidu, Farmer, Ponduru mandal

Cow is an important domestic animal for all as everyone needs its milk and its sub-products and its dung and urine also consist of medicinal values. To protect the importance of cow it should be given national animal status.

A Umamaheswara Rao, Senior Advocate, Srikakulam.

It is my privilege to join hands with many to get the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for declaring cow as a national animal. Hence declaring cow as National Animal is only the solution for saving the cows from unlawful elements.

P Rajya Lakshmi, Retd Bank officer, SG Colony, Chittoor

When we compare a Cow and Tiger, there are less uses of Tiger. Being a part of farming, food, medicine and industry, cow dung plays important role in preserving environment.

Considering the facts, Indian Cow deserves to be declared as the National Animal

Katakam Deepthi, Athiva Womens' organisation, Karimnagar

There is a need to declare Cow as a national animal. Some people treat cow urine as a medicine and drink it. Earlier, houses were cleaned with cow dung because it is anti-virus. Taking significance of cow into consideration, there is need to declare cow as a national animal.

V Sridevi, Homemaker, Guntur city