Meet Our Cows and Bulls

We care for and feed more than 100 cows and bulls. Some live permanently within the sanctuary, while others — due to limited space — still live on the streets but come to us every day for meal, shelter and care.

For just 3000 Rs a month or 36,000 Rs a year — you can give a neglected and abandoned cow or bull a second chance at life through personal adoption. As a sponsor, you’ll receive monthly updates about your adopted bull and see the difference your support is making. Your kindness provides them with care, safety, and love — and they will be forever grateful.

Please contact us at:

info@giridharicowsanctuary.com

Meet our cows and bulls who you could have the opportunity to adopt, click on the photo for their names and stories!

*Page under progress, not all bulls and stories are added yet*

RAVI

Ravi is a very thoughtful and kind bull.

He is very loyal. He prefers to have a few very good friends, rather than many acquaintances. He loves his friends so much that he gets very disturbed when they are not around. He will walk up and down looking for them and waiting, instead of eating his food.

Ravi was born in the sanctuary in July 2019. Since childhood, he always loved kids. He used to go to where the neighbours’ children were playing so that they would play with him also. They would stroke him, hug him, sit on him, jump over him, slide down his belly and even play ball with him. Both Ravi and the kids had so much fun. The children would also climb the trees and pick lots of leaves to feed to Ravi; they knew exactly which were his favorite. Even though they all go to school now, the kids still come to visit their favourite bull Ravi to play with him.

Every year, they come to celebrate Ravi’s birthday. They decorate his shed, make daliya “cake” for him, and decorate him.

Ravi is very handsome and has a very sweet fragrance coming from his forehead (like a burfi). He is one of our most famous cuddle – therapy bulls. Sometimes people come here with big problems in life, but Dr. Ravi helps them. You hug him, and he heals you and blesses your life.

KANHA

Kanha came to us in April 2024. He used to live in Kiki Nagla’s jungle area with another group of homeless bulls. We would come daily to bring them fodder and often we would find them inside the local garbage dump. One day Kanha was standing there with a huge, life-threatening wound; it was bleeding, flesh was hanging out…the leg cut open to the bone.

We called the vet immediately, and he said if we didn’t bring him home, he would die. Kanha had to have an operation. While the operation was going on, Chotu and Jagu built a separate shed for him from bamboo next to the store room. He even had a fan in there, and 24 hours Srimad Bhagavatam recitation from a speaker. He stayed in this room for over two months until he could walk again. Then slowly we started taking him for walks in the nearby area. For some time, he would stay in the cows’ field during the day and come home to his shed at night, until we made a separate area for him, Ravi, and Cakra to live together in the back field.

Kanha is gentle, calm, and very kind. He sometimes plays wrestling with Cakra in the evenings. Sometimes he licks both Cakra and Ravi.

He loves massages, hugs, and neck scratches.

GAURANG

Gauranga is our oldest bull by age, and definitely one of the gentlest. He has a calm, peaceful nature and is deeply affectionate, though he can also be playful and very funny. He loves gud, cuddles, and being close to people. Simply being around him feels calming.
He came to live with us permanently in December 2024, after we had spent several years feeding him on the streets. Every day he would wait for us by the roadside, somehow always knowing when we were coming. Sometimes stronger bulls chased him away, and we would have to search for him in a new area.
One especially cold winter morning, we found him lying almost dead on the road unable to stand, dangerously bloated after spending the entire night there. With the help of a vet, blankets, warm water, and hours of massaging, he slowly recovered and was finally able to stand again. We brought him home to our sanctuary and since then he has lived safely with us.
Although he still struggles to walk because of an old hip injury, he remains cheerful and loving. He is gentle with all the other bulls, and they often go to him for affection and grooming.

GHANSHYAM

Ghanshyam came to us in spring 2022. He was already quite tall, with long, sharp horns. He one day just showed up and moved straight in.

He was quite shy in the beginning, but used to let the neighbours’ kids hug him and climb on him.

He is very intelligent, very sensitive.

He is very aware of what happens around him and he also likes to help when there is any problem. For example, one time we had a drunken person shout at us and immediately Ghanshyam came running and stuck his head through the fence and shouted at him. The drunken person then apologised and left. Ghanshyam is sweet and caring, but he also needs his protected space. He easily gets nervous. He functions best in an environment with persons he trusts and in predictable situations.

BRAJESH

We first met Brajesh in Kalideh area while out on the riksha feeding homeless bulls in February 2024. He was very skinny and very scared of humans then. After a while, when he understood that we were coming to bring food for bulls, he started to trust us and see us as his friends. From time to time, he had problems in his knees, and we used to bring him medicine along with his food and gave him massages. In March 2026, he got taken away by cattle catchers to a public goshala. We then acquired permission from the municipality to take him out, and he has been with us since. He is very beautiful, gentle and grateful.

He still sometimes gets fluid build-up in his knees and needs massages and medicine.

MOHAN

NITAI

CAKRA

Cakra was born in our sanctuary in early winter 2023. He has a very unique personality. Thoughtful, understanding, and adaptable, he is friends with everyone while still remaining independent. He is incredibly intelligent and often surprises us with his resourcefulness.

He is the only bull who has learned how to untie knots with his mouth, open gates, and wander wherever he pleases. Remarkably, he can move freely between different groups of bulls in separate fields without causing territorial conflicts — something no other bull manages to do. He has friends everywhere and is at home in every group.

Cakra loves play-wrestling with his friends and will sometimes gently lick them as a sign of affection. He is especially patient and caring with the younger calves.

And despite his young age, Cakra is already a father. When he was only about a year and a half old, he got Draupadi pregnant. We honestly thought nothing would come of it — but we were wrong.

KISHOR

Kishor came to us in the summer of 2021. One day, he appeared near the sanctuary, lay down, and was unable to get back up. He had a very high fever, so we brought him inside and called a vet. After a few days of care, he fully recovered and grew into a big, strong, and healthy bull.

He used to watch the neighbour’s children playing with their favourite bull, Ravi, and soon began sitting beside him so the children would play with him too. They would massage them, feed them fresh leafy branches, cuddle with them, climb onto their backs, and slide down their bellies while Ravi and Kishor calmly enjoyed all the attention.

Kishor has a very grounded and intelligent presence. He likes having his own space and will stand his ground when needed, but with humans he is gentle and very kind.

GOPIKA-NANDAN

GIRIVARA

Our beautiful Girivara came to us as a young calf in early 2021. He was very thin and suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, but from the very beginning he showed a gentle, affectionate, and trusting nature.

At first, he was intimidated by the larger bulls, so we would feed him separately in a smaller feeder nearby. Even then, he would often share his food with the even smaller bull, Giriraja. He cared for him like a little brother — licking him affectionately and gently looking after him.

GIRIRAJ

NILMADHAV

Nilmadhav joined our sanctuary in 2022.

One day, he simply took his opportunity and ran inside the gate when the grass delivery person accidentally left it open — from that moment on, he became part of the family.

He settled in immediately and fit right in with the other bulls.

Nilmadhav is always in a good mood, incredibly patient, and gets along well with everyone.

NILMANI

KESHAV

TILAK

Tilak came to us as an older calf in 2022 with an injured leg that left him limping, likely caused by someone beating him with a stick. During his treatment, we kept him overnight in a separate shed together with Ravi so he could rest and eat peacefully.

Although he was shy and cautious at first, he quickly settled in and became comfortable with everyone around him. Today, Tilak has grown into a strong and very handsome bull.

DAMODAR

DAUJI

RISHABH

A friend found Rishabh near Keshi Ghat after he had been attacked and injured by a dog. He was only about a year old and little more than skin and bones. He was so hungry that we tried feeding him grass, but he didn’t even understand that it was food — he had likely never eaten it before.

For the first few weeks, we cared for him separately, feeding him daliya along with grass and straw mixed with a lot of wheat bran and barley flour, so that he would eat properly. He quickly became very attached and would follow me everywhere, even joining me for katha and kirtan at a neighbour’s house, where he sat quietly, enjoying massages and hugs.

Today, he has grown into a gentle, beautiful, and strong young bull.

DRUV

KANHAIYA

Kanhaiya and Garuda were both abandoned by their owner, who left them standing by the road behind our sanctuary. We had seen him walking them on ropes earlier that day. Even after he left, the two calves remained standing in exactly the same spot, patiently waiting. They were so used to being tied up that they simply stayed there without moving.

That evening, we brought them food. The next day, they were still there — and again the day after that. After three days of waiting, they finally gave up hope that their owner would return. Instead, they followed us home and now permanently live in the sanctuary.

Both of them are very gentle and loving. Kanhaiya especially loves affection. He will quietly come close and stand patiently beside you until you scratch his neck and rub his back.

GARUD

SUDAMA

RAMU

Ramu was found lying by the side of the road in the rain with a high fever. He was severely malnourished and so weak that he could not even sit up. Both of his hind legs were slightly deformed and covered with wounds. A neighbour brought him to us in a rickshaw.

In the beginning, we had to support him with bags of straw just so he could remain sitting upright. After a few days, he was able to stand briefly and take a few steps, with help. Slowly, he regained enough strength to walk on his own, although he would still occasionally collapse unconscious from weakness.

Just as he began recovering, he contracted the severe lumpy skin disease that affected many cows in our area that year. Once again he developed a very high fever, along with large painful swellings on his legs and belly that later burst into deep wounds. With intensive care, he gradually made a full recovery.

Today, Ramu is healthy and especially close to Sudama. The two are inseparable – they take rest next to each other, eat together and support one another in wrestling matches!

KARTIK

BALRAM

Balram came to us as a small calf, even before the sanctuary existed. He discovered there was always food near our house and simply decided to stay close to the feeders. At that time, he was tiny, extremely shy, and suffering from a severe skin disease.

Whenever the vet or anyone approached him, he would panic and try to run away. Eventually, we began mixing his medicines and vitamins into daliya, which he loved. After only a couple of feedings, he started coming to us willingly whenever we called him. While he ate, we would gently apply coconut oil all over his body, which helped his skin heal and became something he clearly enjoyed.

Over time, Balram realised he was safe and cared for, and he slowly became very friendly and trusting. He is naturally gentle and shy, never interested in fighting or dominating the other bulls. Instead, he has a very loving and grateful nature.

NANDU

RASBIHARI

VRINDAVAN-CHANDRA

Vrindavan-Chandra grew up in Caitanya Bihar and used to eat at Radhikalila’s place, where she feeds homeless cows and bulls. He was often bullied and chased away by other bulls, so he would wait until they had finished eating before approaching. He also suffered from recurring hoof problems from a young age.

He was picked up by cattle catchers several times and taken to a public goshala, where he would always stand near the gate. During his first stay there, he even managed to escape and find his way back on his own. He sometimes came to our area for food as well, but our bulls chased him away there too.

Later, he lived on Parikrama Road with a smaller bull we call Madhav until both, along with about fourteen other homeless bulls we fed, were picked up again. By the time we obtained permission to bring them out a few weeks later, some had already disappeared or died. In September 2025, we brought the remaining bulls to our sanctuary, where they now live together in one field.

For the first time in his life, Vrindavan-Chandra has a home and friends, and he is becoming more comfortable with humans. Unfortunately, he still suffers from recurring hoof infections. Our vet suspects it may be hoof cancer, and he is currently receiving treatment.

TARUN-TAMAL

VISHNU

SRINIVAS

Srinivas came to us from the streets in early 2024 and quickly became close friends with another young calf, Shivanand. At the time, they stayed in a shelter just outside the sanctuary, where we cared for the outside street bulls. Because they were still very small, we brought them into their own shed each night so they could eat peacefully and stay warm.

One morning, we noticed Srinivas licking the dogs’ empty milk bowl for a few drops, so we started giving him fresh milk too. He loved it and would come running whenever we called his name. Thanks to a friend from England, he received three litres of milk daily for several months.

Srinivas has always been very affectionate and playful. He especially loves belly rubs and will often lie stretched out completely relaxed while being massaged. After a year living peacefully, he started wandering onto the street and was eventually taken by cattle catchers. We later found him in a public shelter in very poor condition — emaciated, dull-coated, and no longer cheerful. After receiving permission from the municipality, we brought him back home to the sanctuary, where he now lives safely and happily.

SHIVANAND

SANDIPANI

LAKSHMAN

KRISHNA

MADHU

MADHAV

YUGALA

Yugal came to us in the summer of 2025 as a fully grown bull. We found him standing on the road near our house with a large and deep wound on his belly. Our cowherds brought him to the sanctuary for treatment, and he cooperated calmly the entire time, allowing himself to be guided and cared for.
At first, we kept him in a separate area while his wound healed. Once he recovered, he joined the other bulls in the upper back field. He was shy in the beginning, but gradually settled in well.
Yugal is very gentle with humans. Although he sometimes gets into fights with the other bulls, he is usually not the one to start them — but he will defend himself if needed. He is beautiful, intelligent, and very lovable.

JAGADISH

SHAMBO

TRIVIKRAM

NARENDRA

BHARAT

Bharat just came to us recently (beginning of March 2026). He was quite shy at first. He was even scared to go to the feeders where all the homeless bulls eat outside our sanctuary. We used to feed him near the backside of the sanctuary, then slowly he came closer and closer. One day, the upper part of the fence broke on the backside of the sanctuary, then Bharat walked inside the upper field and just stayed there. Now, he loves hugs, and he looks very relaxed and relieved to have found a home.

GOLOKA

Golok came to us in summer 2025. He was a calf about a year old then and used to live in Kalideh area. We used to come there by riksha to feed him and some other bulls twice a day. He knew us and used to come when we call him. Then, a devastating flood came and the whole area were he lived was under water. He was just standing in the water and didn’t know what to do. He followed us to the riksha, so we just lift him inside the riksha and brought him home. He now lives in our sanctuary. He is a beautiful young bull, very friendly and sweet.

GIRIDHARI

DINADAYAL

NANDISHVAR

RAMANUJ

SRIDHAM

PUNDARIK

DAYA-SINDU

NATAVARA

NAVINA-NIRADA

BELVAN-BIHARI

PARTHA

INDU

NAMRUCI

In February 2025, while searching for land to relocate our sanctuary, we stopped at a small temple. As we sat there, a little goat came up to us, placed her head on Ishvari’s shoulder, and rested her injured foot in her lap, as if asking for help.

The temple priest told us that her owner had left her there because of a chronic foot infection that had not improved despite treatment, leaving her unable to graze with the rest of the herd. After speaking with the owner, we brought her home. She happily followed us to the car and spent the entire journey sitting on Ishvari’s lap.

We named her Namruci.

She shared the hospital shed with our bull Radhavallabh, who had come to us after a car accident with two broken hind hips. They became close friends and always slept leaning against each other. Whenever Namruci felt frightened, she would run to Radhavallabh for comfort.

Although her foot infection is now completely healed, the injured leg became shorter than the others, so she still mostly walks and runs on three legs.

Namruci is a cheerful, friendly goat who loves human affection. She has also become friends with our older bulls, Brijesh and Belvan-bihari, who sometimes licks her affectionately.

Our Cows:

KALINDI

Kalindi is our oldest cow and by nature she is very calm and gentle. She came to us as a full-grown cow in May 2017 along with her baby daughter, Yamuna.

She is not a big risk-taker or trouble-maker, but she can be assertive and determined, if she wants something in particular.

She is very beautiful and graceful.

Even though she is older now and moves much more slowly, the other cows and bulls respect her.

She was always a good mother, very caring, giving and nurturing to everyone. She loves being gently scratched and being spoken to lovingly. She understands everything that goes on around her, and who has which mood. If she doesn’t like a situation or person, she will stay away, not in anger, but to keep herself out of any drama and to guard her peaceful tranquility.

YAMUNA

Yamuna came to us along with her mother, Kalindi, in May 2017 when she was just a tiny baby. She was very active, jolly, friendly, curious and smart. She loved running and jumping around. She learned to open the door and the faucet with her mouth. Sometimes she would come into the house, and when she got thirsty, she would open the tap and drink from there rather than from the water bucket.

She would often pass dung right into the bucket set aside for cleaning the cow dung, so we wouldn’t even need to pick it up.

She is very motherly, and loves her friends and family very much.

KISHORI

SURABHI

SATYABHAMA

Satyabhama was one of the first cows we brought into the sanctuary from the streets. At that time, we mostly had bulls living inside the sanctuary, while we cared for the homeless cows outside by feeding them and providing shelter. Many stayed with us for months, but often, once they became pregnant or were close to giving birth, their previous ‘owner’ or even someone else would come and steal them away.

Satyabhama had already been staying with us for about six months when three men came to take her. She was heavily pregnant at the time. They tied a rope around her neck and tried to pull her away, but she broke free and ran straight toward us, hiding behind us, asking for our protection. That day, we decided she would stay with us permanently.

She gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Bhanu Nandini. At first, Satyabhama was very fearful and protective of her baby, likely because her calves had been taken from her in the past. But once she realised that her baby would remain with her, she relaxed and began to feel safe. Now she loves cuddles and is a very confident and friendly cow.

CHAVI-RADHIKA

TARANGINI

BHANU-NANDINI

GODAVARI

PALLAVI

Pallavi came to us as a half-grown calf — thin, frightened, and completely on her own. She didn’t come from the streets, but from the fields behind our sanctuary, where she survived on sparse grass and bushes while watching the bulls inside being cared for and fed.

After a few days, she gathered the courage to run straight through the fence and into the sanctuary. We tried several times to move her to the cows’ area, but she was terrified to leave and would panic, running in circles as if fleeing for her life. Even after we placed her with the cows, she broke back through the fence to return to the bulls.

To this day, she clearly prefers their company. She currently lives together with Chakra, Kishor, and her son and daughter, Gopika-nandan and Yuvati-Radha. She is a very devoted and caring mother. Although she is quite shy with humans, she absolutely loves treats and is always the first to come running when food is being shared.

One of our ongoing challenges is convincing her that life with the cows might not be so bad after all…

Meet Our Cows and Bulls​