Former owner of water buffalo that roamed Iowa suburb for days pleads guilty

The owner of a water buffalo found roaming free for days in a Des Moines, Iowa, suburb in August has pleaded guilty to allowing an animal to roam freely

DES MOINES, Iowa — The owner of a water buffalo ran wild in suburban Des Moines, Iowa, pleaded guilty for days to allowing an animal to roam at large.

The owner was fined $105 and court costs Thursday, according to the Des Moines Register reported.

The owner was slaughtering the animal when it escaped in August.

Police searched for it for days as it roamed Pleasant Hill, a city of 11,000. Fans named the animal PHill after the city.

Police at one point shot PHill as they tried to capture the animal, but it escaped and wandered for several days before being tranquilized with the help of zoo and animal rescue workers.

The former owner turned over custody of PHill and two other water buffalos – now named Sal and Jane – to an animal shelter.

The water buffalo was treated to a major animal hospital due to an infected gunshot wound. Iowa Farm Sanctuary said PHill is recovering well.

According to the Water Buffaloes website, water buffalos can weigh up to 2,500 pounds. National Geographicalthough the Iowa animal appears smaller in photos. The water buffalo, often domesticated, is the largest member of the Bovini tribe, which includes yak, bison, African buffalo, several species of wild cattle and others, according to the website.