A female water buffalo presumably moved the lid over the manure pit during a scuffle in the barn and fell into it. We were called in by the fire brigade to help them, because they aren't equipped for such cases. By the time we arrived they had organised a small telescopic loader and removed a slatted floor in the run, where the buffalo cow was to be lifted out. As water buffaloes wallow in every puddle and mud hole, she was having the time of her life and it took some persuasion to catch her. We then strapped her into the animal rescue and transport net and lifted her out of her unfortunate situation with the telescopic loader. After a first hosing down by the fire brigade we drove her to the meadow where she could be released into the herd again. The water buffalo survived the involuntary excursion unharmed.
Rescuing large animals such as horses and cows requires special equipment and great effort: In addition to professional and often expensive equipment, committed specialists with many years of training are needed to rescue large animals from life-threatening situations with great caution and experience. The honorary specialists of the large animal rescue service GTRD often put up with long distances and aren't afraid of neither costs nor dirt to rescue the frightened animals as gently as possible.
Rescue operations of the large animal rescue service are often time-consuming and usually involve high costs. While most horse emergencies are covered by insurance, the costs of rescuing livestock pose financial problems to animal owners - often the GTRD doesn't even get remuneration. However, this does not prevent them from continuing to save the lives of livestock on a daily basis while using all available resources.
We believe that such a commitment deserves support. That is why SUST has agreed to pay for the costs of rescuing "livestock" such as cows. Because we believe: "Livestock" also deserves professional rescuing!
--> Learn more about the valuable work of the large animal rescue service here: www.gtrd.ch
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