Escaped buffalo, once destined for slaughter, is rescued

The water buffalo that went missing near Pleasant Hill last week was captured Wednesday, transported to an animal hospital and has been claimed by an animal sanctuary.

Catch up quick: The buffalo was being prepared for butchery when it escaped Saturday from an unincorporated area in the 2000 block of Northeast 56th Street.

• Owner Prem Nepal told authorities that initially responded to a call Saturday about the animal being loose that it was aggressive and asked for it to euthanized, Pleasant Hill police said in a statement. They informed the owner that they were not authorized to do so unless the animal posed a threat to public safety.
• Shortly after, officers fired a shotgun round at the buffalo and injured it when it ventured into a busy Pleasant Hill intersection but it escaped capture.

Driving the news: The animal was spotted Tuesday evening but officers deemed it unsafe to corral it because of nightfall and concerns about public safety.

• The animal was tranquilized Wednesday morning and taken to Iowa State University Veterinary Hospital.

Flashback: In 2020, Nepal pleaded guilty to not having an animal on a leash in a state park and paid a $105 fine.

• In that case, a cow he owned escaped, was deemed a threat to public safety and was killed by law enforcement with four slugs.

What's next: An investigation into how the buffalo escaped continues and charges may follow, per the Pleasant Hill police.

• Nepal, who did not respond to Axios' requests for comment, has surrendered the animal.
• Local animal rescue agency Iowa Farm Sanctuary announced the group will take the buffalo in after it is released from the animal hospital.