KATHMANDU, Jan 15: If she hadn’t resisted the hammer blow in the slaughterhouse, she would have been a meat dish a year and a half earlier. A buffalo, destined for slaughter because of low milk yield, miraculously escaped onto the street, saving herself.
She sought refuge in a school, but her pursuers relentlessly hunted her down. Animal rights activists stepped in, demanding the buffalo’s life be spared. They took her to a shelter and thus saved her life.
“The buffalo looked extremely pathetic,” reported Sneha Shrestha of Sneha’s Care. She had a bruise on her head from a hammer, a broken horn, and blood seeping from her eyes. “The inhumane treatment broke all our hearts,” she added.
Sneha Shrestha was even more heartbroken to learn the buffalo was pregnant, two months along. “We loved and cared for her even more after that realization,” she explained. “Her resolve to safeguard her unborn child filled us with immense pride.”
Following care from Sneha’s Care, a calf was born to the buffalo in Baisakh, Sneha reported. “We treat all the animals here with the same respect we show to humans,” she said. “We affectionately named the calf Maicha, meaning Beloved Girl.”
Sneha said the buffalo got better after treatment but was still weak. Despite this, she still produced enough milk for Maicha. “Milk production was impaired in one or two udders,” she explained. “Still, the other two provided nourishment for Maicha.”
A buffalo farmer in Bhaisepati
Sneha said that after arriving at the shelter, the buffalo, renamed Mayakumari, got along well with the other cows and animals.
Mayakumari’s injuries from the attack worsened despite receiving care, resulting in her illness. “On Sunday, we sadly lost Mayakumari.”
After Mayakumari’s death, Sneha shared how her selflessness for Maicha moved everyone. “We felt she survived only to give birth to Maicha,” Sneha said. Following Maicha’s consumption of grains and grass, Mayakumari died.
As part of showing respect for all animals, Mayakumari was given an honorable farewell. Sneha mentioned that she wanted other animals to witness it as well. She said, “Maicha’s attempt to drink milk from her mother’s udders following Mayakumari’s death profoundly affected us. While we buried Mayakumari, Maicha watched the scene, her eyes filled with emotion.”
Following Mayakumari’s death, Sneha shared an emotional social media post:
Goodbye! Dear Mayakumari,
Though death is an eternal truth, it is extremely difficult to accept your passing.
Only you understood how excruciating the hammer blow to your head in the slaughterhouse was. The tale of your maternal power, enabling you to conquer death for your unborn child, is nearly indescribable. Witnessing humanity’s cruelty at its zenith fills us with shame. We were fortunate to come across you in your pain and torment. We feel immensely proud to have experienced your life’s ups and downs with you.
Dear Mayakumari,
All we can do is gaze at Maicha’s face, representing your love, and attempt to forget you. Today, we are overcome with grief. Your absence has made our home feel desolate.
We offer you our tribute, with our eyes filled with tears.
Please grace us with your heavenly blessings.
We’ll always remember you through the symbol of your love, Maicha.
