Angel Yamuna is a 2 year old female water buffalo who was rescued from the busy streets of Goa. She had a huge wound on her neck, from being cut by a barbed wire. The wound was already infected and infested with hundreds of maggots before she was rescued and brought to our shelter. Angel has since received all the medical care she needs to treat her wound. She is doing much better now and has integrated well into her new cow family. However, she still needs a lot of food and care at the shelter. Her dung is also recycled and used to power our biogas plant and to make dhoop cakes (mosquito repellent cakes). Angel is also our mascot in educating young children during WAG’s Education Programme on how intelligent, sensitive and perceptive all animals, including water buffaloes, can be.

Angel is a unique character in herself. She often thinks she is a dog and will run after you if it looks like you have something tasty in your hand. She loves being watered down and wiped with a wet cloth regularly, especially in the summer heat! She socialises well with our rescue calves and insists on being the centre of attention no matter where she is.

Water buffaloes are usually sold at a high price in the dairy industry. Historically water buffaloes were exported out of India to Rome to make the famous Buffalo Mozzarella. Their milk is richer in fat & protein than that of normal cows and therefore is in high demand. WAG has received many requests for “purchasing” Angel to be used as a dairy cow. But she will stay safe with us for the rest of her life as we know once she is too old to produce milk, she will be sent straight to slaughter. Help us provide this beautiful water buffalo with a great life, rather than the one she would have had as a milk producing machine.