West Bengal: Indian zoo ordered to change lions’ 'blasphemous' names - BBC News

The two lions were named after the Hindu deity Sita and Akbar, a 16th Century Mughal ruler.

8 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A court in India has asked a zoo to change the name of two lionsAn Indian court has ordered a zoo in West Bengal state to change the names of two lions after a hardline Hindu group complained it hurt their religious sentiments.

The lioness was named after Hindu deity Sita while the lion was called Akbar, after the 16th Century Mughal ruler.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) challenged this, saying that naming the lioness after a goddess was blasphemous.

It also objected to keeping the lions in the same wildlife park.

The two big cats currently live in the North Bengal Wild Animals Park in Siliguri district.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-68378060

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