You might think of cattle as rather inert creatures, just standing there grazing. But they’ve actually got far more personality, as you’ll see in this story about a bull named Bandit.
Bandit was rescued by Gut Aiderbichl, an animal rescue organization based in Austria. The group’s beginnings go back to 2001 when they rescued 25 horses. Since then, they’ve rescued thousands of animals, including pigs, goats, cattle, sheep, and even some exotic ones like chimpanzees. In addition to helping animals directly, they’ve created education centers where visitors can meet and get to know the animals. Outreach of this sort is an important part of the group’s mission.
The group has rescued over 500 cattle, most famously a dairy cow named Yvonne. In 2001, she escaped from a farm and took off for the woods. The repeated (and unsuccessful) attempts to lure her out made news all around the world. One German tabloid went so far as to offer a large reward for her capture! After three months, Yvonne was finally captured and sent to the animal sanctuary where she got to enjoy greener pastures.
When Gut Aiderbichl rescued Bandit the bull, there wasn’t nearly so much drama but for the bovine involved, the improvement in his quality of life was much greater. The unfortunate bull was not only being kept in a pen that was too small, but chains further restricted his movement. For Bandit, it was a truly miserable life. You might think that he’d become used to it, but as you’ll see in the video posted below, nothing could be further from the truth. Freed from his chains, Bandit was so happy he did an unforgettable “dance of freedom.”
Did Bandit’s story give you a new appreciation for our animal friends’ capacity for emotion? Let’s hear from you in the comments at Facebook and don’t forget to like and share!