Morocco's King Mohammed VI urges nation to avoid slaughtering sheep during Eid al-Adha

Herds have shrunk because of drought and dry pastures, so Moroccans are urged to abstain from slaughtering sheep.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersNo sheep for Eid, king tells Moroccans1 day agoShareSaveDavid Bamford & Natasha BootyBBC NewsShareSaveAFPHerds have shrunk by almost 40% in a decadeKing Mohammed VI has asked Moroccans to abstain from performing the Muslim rite of slaughtering sheep during Eid al-Adha this year due to a sharp drop in the country's herd.

The shortages are blamed on seven years of drought.

Eid al-Adha, which falls in June, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command.

Muslims mark the event by slaughtering sheep or other animals and the meat is shared among family and donated to the poor.

But herds in Morocco have shrunk by 38% in a decade due to dry pastures, according to official data.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevxxxmdmxeo

---