Bounty-hunters Snarl Roaming Cows In Delhi

A cash reward on the heads of New Delhi's stray cows has triggered road chaos in the Indian capital as bounty hunters on motorbikes compete to round up cattle roaming the streets of the city.

The Delhi High Court passed an order instructing authorities to offer 2,000 rupees ($46) per cow -- an average Indian's monthly salary -- to rid the city of the traffic menace.

With cows sacred to Hindus, who make up the bulk of India's billion-plus population, an estimated 35,000 cows and buffalo roam free in the capital, sharing space with hordes of monkeys, camels and stray dogs.

Traffic routinely comes to a halt on highways to allow animals to amble across, sometimes leading to accidents. Stick-toting "cowboys" with motorbikes as their steeds were chasing cows all over the city and authorities were hard put to keep pace with the flood of strays being handed over to state shelters.

"There is no dearth of stray cattle ... 2000 rupees is a lot of money. I will not rest till there is not a single cow or bull left on the roads", a local bus driver said.

The cows must be delivered alive, of course, and authorities were giving out receipts that could be cashed in later.

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