Vedanta Society Monks Caught In the Deer Killing Crossfire
West Marin Residents Plead with Monks to Forbid NPS Further Access To Retreat
Grounds
April 10, 2008
When the religious of Olema's Vedanta Society made a concession to the National Park Service to
allow its workers to enter retreat grounds for the purpose of administering contraceptive treatments
to the fallow deer which once throve in the park-like setting, it is hard to believe the monks
knew what they were signing up for. Residents, tourists, photographers and retreat-goers alike have
been sickened by the spectacle of the park's remaining 80 or so fallow does - laden with bulky radio tracking
collars which have caused ugly swellings on the animals' necks, and bolted through both ears. These
shackled creatures have suffered inhumane treatment of an incredible kind at the hands of hired
gunmen, White Buffalo. Violence is now visible everywhere at the Vedanta Society's retreat.
Neighbors and friends of the monks are urging them to forbid Anthony DiNicola and his gunmen any
further access to the land. The populations of both the fallow and axis deer have been obliterated
by the NPS, in complete opposition to their early promises that the eradication would take place
over more than a decade. In less than one year's time, Point Reyes is down to the very last of
its cherished deer.
We have received the following plea for action from a Point Reyes resident:
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April 9, 2008
The Vedanta Society owns a 2,200 acre religious retreat bordering the Point Reyes National Seashore Park.
They came out publicly last year and stated they would not allow any killing on their property.
They did however allow the Park service access to their land for contraception of the
white/fallow deer. Simple contraception can be administered by remote dart and does not violate
the animal excessively because they do not need to be trapped.
Instead White Buffalo Inc, hired by the park, put 2 &3 radio tracking collars on each deer &
in addition bolted large tags into their ears. It became evident to everyone living in and
around the Olema Valley that this enabled White Buffalo to track the deer. We have
consulted with leading wildlife experts who have informed us that radio collar tracking
devices are not necessary.
These animals are being used to test experimental drugs. It is obvious to us
that the Vedanta has been used as a staging ground to track the deer and commit mass
murder when practically overnight the deer disappeared.
Many people in the community wrote to the Vedanta society expressing their outrage.
A meeting with Dr. Estol Carte, president of the Vedanta Society and Marianne Quinn,
secretary , followed this event.
The 80 or so deer that remain are clinging to life by taking refuge on the Vedanta property.
Anthony DiNicola of White Buffalo, Inc. is back in the Point Reyes National Park.
This is the company that has used high powered weapons, rocket nets, helicopters,
bolt guns, beating & stabbing & plastic bags over the deer's heads to suffocate them
to death & has left to rot hundreds of deer carcasses for three days before trucking
them to who knows where ? ; Apparently not to the food banks they claimed they would send them to.
The park and DiNicola cannot be trusted.
Please call the Vedanta society immediately at:
1 (415) 663-1258 OLEMA RETREAT
1 (415) 922-2323 SF - MARYANNE
We must pressure the Vedanta Society to close their gates to White Buffalo
Inc / DiNicola & the National Park Service and not allow them access to
their property for any reason whatsoever.
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The Vedanta monks have been put in a terrible situation by the deer slaughter. It is apparently
not their policy to interfere with doings in the outside world, but in this case, by allowing
White Buffalo into their home, the outside world has arrived to be reckoned with. Please, consider
making a polite and urgent phone call to the monks to ask them to act as guardians to the last
of the fallow deer.
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