Animal Liberation Sanctuary
Shelter, care and Dharma for rescued animals
Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche often spoke about the suffering of animals and how we can help them, and every day at the sanctuary we try to put his words into practice. Our goal is simple: ease the animals' suffering, give them healthy, happy lives, and create the causes for a better rebirth. We look after their physical well-being with nutritious food, open space to roam, and regular care, and a veterinarian checks in on them and treats anyone who's unwell. We tend to their spiritual well-being too, with mantras playing throughout the shelters and stupas standing ready for circumambulation.
Right now, the sanctuary is home to 48 goats, 2 cows, 4 buffalo, and 1 duck. Lama Zopa Rinpoche named one buffalo Bodhichitta and personally blessed her in 2021; H.E. Ling Rinpoche named the other three, Losang, Ngawang, and Jampal. Every animal receives food, shelter, and daily blessings, from mantra recitations to circumambulation around the stupas.
As Rinpoche instructed, they're also blessed with microfilm mantras printed billions of times over, to create the causes for enlightenment. His Holiness the Dalai Lama reminds us that universal responsibility extends beyond our own lives to embrace all sentient beings and the environment that sustains them, and that's the spirit we try to honour here, nurturing compassion for every creature.
A New Home for the Animals
The Animal Liberation Sanctuary's peaceful new site in Sindhupalchok is home to animals rescued from slaughter, thanks to the extraordinary kindness and compassion of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Without his intervention, these animals would have lost their lives. Instead, they now live in peace and, most importantly, have the chance to connect with the Dharma.
Under Rinpoche's guidance, the sanctuary's animal population kept growing until it outgrew the space.
When we raised this concern, Rinpoche compassionately encouraged us to find more land and expand, so we began the search. Land in the Kathmandu Valley proved too costly, so we looked further afield. After nearly 14 years of careful searching, guided by Rinpoche, we found the perfect spot: a peaceful site in Sindhupalchok, about four hours from Kopan Monastery. The new Animal Liberation Sanctuary officially opened on 8 July 2026.
Animal Liberation Sanctuary
This move comes down to one thing: more rescued animals need a better life. The current site limits their freedom, but the new land offers a more natural setting with open areas and fresh grass. Rinpoche advised that buffaloes, cows, sheep, goats, and other animals—both large and small—should live together in one large open area, like a happy family. Animals really are happier living side by side in a spacious, open setting.
Over the past four years, we've purchased about 90% of the new land.
Over the last two years, we've begun construction on:
A goat shelter
A manager's room
Separate shelters for cows and buffaloes
These projects are now about 90% complete. Your donation will directly support these ongoing and future projects.
We are deeply grateful for your kindness and support. The sanctuary depends entirely on generous friends like you to carry this important work forward.
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2 cows · 4 buffaloes · 48 goats · 1 duck
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