Speaking of cows...

"If someone were to ask me what the most important outward manifestation of Hinduism was, I would suggest that it was the idea of cow protection." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Some trace the cow's sacred status back to Lord Krishna, one of the faith's most important figures. He is said to have appeared 5,000 years ago as a cowherd, and is often described as bala-gopala, "the child who protects the cows." Another of Krishna's holy names, Govinda, means "one who brings satisfaction to the cows."

Today, in heavily Hindu nations like India and Nepal, milk continues to hold a central place in religious rituals. And in honor of their exalted status, cows often roam free... ...a citizen can be sent to jail for killing or injuring a cow. Delhi's 13 million residents, for instance, share the streets with an estimated 40,000 cows -- leading to some complaints. One is that the grazing cows spread trash as they rip open garbage bags in search of tasty morsels...

"What is the greatest traffic hazard in Delhi today? Cows," Bibek Debroy, a columnist for India's Financial Express, wrote in a pointed 2003 essay. "As our national animal, the tiger may be close to extinction. But the cow is very much around and many soon become our new national animal."
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/holycow/hinduism.html