An indigenous rancher has helped to catch and relocate 18 wild water buffaloes from the banks of New Taipei City’s Dahan River (大漢溪) to pasture in Taitung’s Nansi Village (南溪), the New Taipei City Government said on Friday.
The buffaloes have been roaming the meadows along the Dahan River since a local man surnamed Lee (李) formally renounced ownership of the cattle in 2020, the New Taipei City Department of Water Utilities said.
Unbothered by predators and breeding freely, the herd grew to as many as 20 to 30 buffaloes and its bulls have become a safety concern for area residents, it said.
Photo courtesy of Shih Ching-jung
Several buffaloes in February last year charged the gate of the area camping site after being spooked, it said, adding that a bull two months later reportedly chased a bicyclist.
After a joint meeting of government officials from the city’s Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office and Taipei Zoo, Yangmingshan National Park concluded that the animals must be removed and drew up plans for their capture with tranquilizer dart guns, it said.
That program fell through after repeatedly failures at catching the buffaloes, it said.
After the failed capture attempts drew media attention, members of the professional baseball community suggested that officials call on an indigenous cattle wrangler who uses traditional methods, it said.
The department recruited Shih Ching-jung (石清榮), a scuba diving instructor who heads the Nansi Community Development Association.
Shih said he learned the art of catching buffaloes from village elders and that these methods were distinct from hunting.
“The important thing is to ensure that no buffaloes or people would be harmed,” he said.
Shih spent one week in the reeds following the herd to observe its size and behavior.
“To build familiarity and trust, I sometimes talk to the buffaloes,” he said, adding that these bonds were key in avoiding aggression during the takedown.
Still, capturing buffaloes that had no nose rings proved so challenging that he almost gave up, he said.
A breakthrough came in December last year, when he tethered the herd’s leading bull, enabling him to lure a large group into captivity.
The 12 adults and six calves, now ringed and domesticated, were put to pasture on a hill near the seaside village, he said, adding that lands in that area are fallow to allow for organic farming.
About 30 elders tend to the organic farms daily and can care for the herd if needed, Shih said, adding that the older villagers raised many buffaloes in their youth when cattle were more common in indigenous communities.
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