A water buffalo gored two butchers at a slaughterhouse before going on a rampage through the Philippine capital yesterday, terrorizing hundreds of people and tossing furniture in the lobby of a small hotel.
The three-year-old female, weighing nearly 450kg, injured a total of three people with its 46cm horns and caused the evacuation of about 200 call centre workers during its two-hour bid for freedom.
“I ran, but it was faster. It tossed me into the air with its horns. When I woke up, I was being stitched up in hospital,” said butcher Jonet Rufino, aged 35, who was the first victim.
“In my 14 years at work, this is the first time I was attacked by an animal,” added Rufino, who required 14 stitches to a wound on his backside.
The animal broke loose as it arrived by truck at a central Manila abattoir and went after the butchers, police investigator James Bagay said.
It then galloped through some of Manila’s busiest streets, goring a female bystander before reaching the Cubao business district, more than 1km away.
There it entered the lobby of a small hotel and tossed some furniture, before breaking into a call centre building, Bagay said.
It broke some glass panels in the reception, but no one was hurt — although the building had to be evacuated, he said.
The huge animal was eventually trapped about two hours after the rampage began.
“I’ve been a police officer in this city for about 15 years. I have never seen anything like it,” Bagay said.
“The animal was probably stressed after the overnight trip. Its handlers should have paid more attention,” he added.
Bagay said the buffalo, which was taken to a police station, would likely still be destined for the abattoir.
Water buffaloes can weigh up to 1,200kg, with males three times larger than females.
Their meat is often eaten in the Philippines as a substitute for beef.
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