“No beef allowed!” It’s the law.

Because of people’s religious beliefs, slaughtering cows is a big no-no in many parts of India. But now Indian meat lovers—and zoo animals—have a bigger problem than that. Places in India are running out of other kinds of meat too.

Many people in India practice the Hindu religion. Hindus revere cows, so you won’t catch a Hindu munching on a beef steak. But you might see one eating water buffalo meat. Many Hindus think buffalo is okay to eat, and slaughtering those animals is legal in India. But what if a Hindu buys a package of meat marked “buffalo” and finds a hunk of beef inside?

Right now in Uttar Pradesh, India, some slaughterhouses and meat shops are being accused of selling “buffalo” that is actually beef. In March, Yogi Adityanath was appointed as the new state minister there. He is a Hindu priest. “I know in the name of buffalo, cows are being slaughtered,” says Mr. Adityanath. “This should end."

Do shops and slaughterhouses really sell cow meat instead of water buffalo meat? So far, there is no proof of that. But Mr. Adityanath has made sure they won’t—by shutting them down. Before now, the region’s many illegal shops bribed government officials to keep them open. Many shop owners are now scrambling to become legal. But the process is not easy.

Meanwhile, meat is disappearing from markets. Some restaurants have to shut down. Others have to change the menu. One 105-year-old restaurant had to get rid of its top-seller: buffalo kebabs. The shop sells chicken and mutton (sheep meat) instead. Customers don’t like that one bit. They want their buffalo back.

Carnivores in the state’s zoo aren’t happy about the change either. Zoo officials sent an urgent message to the state. “We are feeding the lions goat meat instead of buffalo. But they do not like it!”