How One Water Buffalo Found Freedom After Escaping Slaughter

Phill was one of four water buffalo purchased and kept on a small property in central Iowa. Their keeper butchered one of them on the property, stringing the water buffalo up and slitting the animal’s throat. Phill was supposed to be next.

According to Shawn Camp, Iowa Farm Sanctuary’s founder and director, Phill managed to jump a fence and escape while being prepared for slaughter. Despite a police officer shooting Phill in the chest—at Phill’s keeper’s request—the brave water buffalo got away. Phill spent several days on the run, wounded and pursued by a drone and ATVs.

When Camp received word of Phill’s story, she did everything she could to help, posting on Facebook asking for information. The landlord of Phill’s keeper contacted Camp to her surprise, asking that the remaining water buffalos be removed from his property immediately! He took Iowa Farm Sanctuary’s animal surrender papers—along with an eviction notice—to his tenant’s workplace and got them signed. 

Phill’s brave escape enabled Iowa Farm Sanctuary to rescue Sal and Jane, the water buffalos left behind on the property. But they still needed to find Phill. On a call with Mercy For Animals, Camp said:

If he had been a Holstein cow, he would have been found right away. But water buffalo can hold their breath for five minutes under water. All he had to do was find water.

And find water he did. Phill was eventually captured in a quarry and then taken to the Iowa State University Large Animal Hospital for treatment. Once destined for death, Phill, Sal, and Jane will live out their lives in peace at Iowa Farm Sanctuary.