Current:Home > ContactIowa water buffalo escapes owner moments before slaughter, eluding police for days -Ascend Finance Compass
Iowa water buffalo escapes owner moments before slaughter, eluding police for days
View
Date:2025-04-13 07:28:42
A water buffalo went rogue and became an overnight celebrity in the Des Moines metro area after it escaped its owner moments before it was destined for slaughter.
The animal, later injured when a police officer shot at it, remained on the loose in the area Wednesday and officers were deploying drones as part of the search.
The incident began Saturday in rural Polk County, Iowa, just north of Pleasant Hill city limits, when a water buffalo jumped onto its owner just before it was about to get shot and slaughtered and made its escape.
After its remarkable getaway, residents dubbed water buffalo "PHill."
"As you may have heard, we responded to a call about an animal in the road," said a Pleasant Hill Police Department Facebook post. "This animal turned out to be a Water Buffalo."
The animal was shot and injured Saturday after it became aggressive when confronted by police, according to the post.
The water buffalo then fled the scene, and police continued their search.
"With a dangerous animal loose in our community, we are using all resources available to keep our community safe and attempt to return the animal to its owner, if possible," said the department.
The water buffalo was last seen heading southbound in a creek near the southwest side of Pleasant Hill.
The animal is aggressive, and police ask people not to approach it. Instead, call the department at 515-265-1444.
Police do not have the resources to handle the situation
Police said neither they nor the animal control department they have teamed up with have the tranquilizers or equipment needed to handle "such a unique situation."
The department has teamed up with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to use its drone technology and will begin searching the area where the animal was last seen.
What happened?
On Saturday, Pleasant Hill police were dispatched to the area where a caller said they saw a loose animal in the street. Police identified the animal as a water buffalo and began coordinating with the Animal Rescue League and Des Moines Animal Control to apprehend it.
The water buffalo had escaped its owner’s property, officials said. The owner told police that the mammal was aggressive.
When officers spotted the water buffalo, it became aggressive, and an officer shot it once with a shotgun, the news release said. The Animal Rescue League and Des Moines Animal Control do not have tranquilizers to sedate a mammal of the water buffalo’s size, officials said.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- 'Children of the State' examines the American juvenile justice system
- U.S. prosecutors ask for 25 more years in prison for R. Kelly
- Sold an American Dream, these workers from India wound up living a nightmare
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- In 'Everything Everywhere,' Ke Huy Quan found the role he'd been missing
- From viral dance hit to Oscar winner, RRR's 'Naatu Naatu' has a big night
- Tate Modern's terrace is a nuisance for wealthy neighbors, top U.K. court rules
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Take your date to the grocery store
Ranking
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- While many ring in the Year of the Rabbit, Vietnam celebrates the cat
- 'Table setting' backstory burdens 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 debut
- An ancient fresco is among 60 treasures the U.S. is returning to Italy
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- 'Titanic' was king of the world 25 years ago for a good reason
- N.Y. Philharmonic chief looks to Gustavo 'Dudamel era' after historic appointment
- Two YouTubers from popular Schaffrillas Productions have died in a car crash
Recommendation
The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
Ballet dancers from across Ukraine bring 'Giselle' to the Kennedy Center
Roald Dahl's publisher responds to backlash by keeping 'classic' texts in print
'How to Sell a Haunted House' is campy and tense, dark but also deep
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
'Imagining Freedom' will give $125 million to art projects focused on incarceration
In the 'Last Dance,' Magic Mike leaves his thong-and-dance routine behind
Leo DiCaprio's dating history is part of our obsession with staying young forever