Escaped buffalo, once destined for slaughter, is rescued

The water buffalo that went missing near Pleasant Hill last week was captured Wednesday and taken to an animal hospital.

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

• Owner Prem Nepal told authorities the animal was aggressive and asked for the animal to be euthanized, Pleasant Hill police said in a statement.

Due to safety concerns, officers fired a shotgun round, injuring the animal as it wandered into a busy Pleasant Hill intersection before escaping 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.