In a bizarre sequence of events that unfolded over several days in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, a large water buffalo that escaped its enclosure last Saturday has finally been safely tranquilized and secured.
This resolution brings relief to a community that was on high alert after the aggressive animal was shot by police and then went missing.
The saga began early Saturday morning when the water buffalo, now affectionately nicknamed “PHill” by local residents, escaped from a property north of town.
The police were first alerted to the situation by a 911 call, which was reportedly made by the animal’s owner. “It’s running down the street,” the caller said. “I need somebody to shoot it.”
Responding to the call, Pleasant Hill police located the animal around 10 a.m. on NE 56th Street and attempted to guide it back.
However, the buffalo had other plans, breaking through the containment efforts and leading the police on a chase that wound through residential areas and across busy roadways.
The pursuit culminated near the Community State Bank on North Hickory Boulevard, where one officer, in a tense moment caught on body camera, fired a shotgun at the animal, wounding it on the left side of its belly.
Despite the injury, the buffalo managed to vanish into the surrounding neighborhood, prompting an extensive search operation.
For days, no one knew the whereabouts of the wounded buffalo until late Tuesday when it was spotted in a sand pit east of Pleasant Hill Boulevard.
The discovery came just in time, as nightfall and an approaching storm made immediate rescue efforts risky.
Authorities, including the Pleasant Hill Police, Polk County Conservation, Blank Park Zoo, Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Altoona Police, and Des Moines Police, formulated a meticulous plan to safely recover the animal.
By Wednesday morning, crews had managed to coax the buffalo out of the sand pit and administered a tranquilizer dart around 9:30 a.m.
A second dart was needed about half an hour later to fully immobilize the buffalo, which was then loaded into a trailer and treated with reversal drugs, antibiotics, and vitamins.
The water buffalo has since been transported to Iowa State’s Large Animal Hospital in Ames for further treatment.
The Iowa Farm Sanctuary has taken legal ownership of the buffalo, ensuring it a future in a safe and nurturing environment. “They get to roam the pastures throughout the day, they can go swimming in the pond, if they want, we really just give them their own space, and give them a home where they can do whatever they want whenever they want,” said founder Jered Camp, describing the sanctuary’s ethos.
As the community breathes a sigh of relief, the incident has raised questions about the handling of such unique animals and the responsibilities of their owners.
The Pleasant Hill Police Department has stated that an investigation is ongoing and charges may be filed against the animal’s original owner.