A lone cow stranded on an island for two years after devastating floods is now joined by a bull, but no one knows how he got there.
The brown cow was spotted on Chinderah Island, about 16km south of Tweed Heads in northern NSW, after major flooding wreaked havoc in the region in February 2022.
It is suspected that the animal flush was swept away by the flood and stranded on the island.
Local fisherman Nathan Hall was the first to spot the animal, which became stranded on the five-hectare island two weeks after the floods.
Mr Hall, who has been keeping an eye on the cow ever since, was astounded when he recently found a black bull on the island keeping Bessie company.
“I have been around and visited the cow so far, but seeing the black bull a few days ago was a bit of a shock for me,” he told the ABC.
A lone cow stranded on an island for two years after devastating floods is now joined by a bull – but no one knows how he got there
He has been supplying water for the cow for the past six months but was surprised by the bull’s unusual sighting.
“I have three 50-gallon barrels, and every time I go that way in the boat, I stop and pour 60 gallons of water into a half-barrel can that we have down there,” he said.
No one knows where the cattle come from and the animals have not yet been claimed by anyone.
Mr Hall said he saw the pair drinking water from the nearby River Tweed when he recently visited the island and said they both looked fine.
“They came within five feet of the boat, as if they wanted to jump with me.”
Chinderah Island (pictured) is located near the Tweed River and livestock are stranded on the island and have yet to be claimed by an owner
The cow (pictured) became stranded on Chinderah Island near Tweed Heads in northern NSW after major flooding hit the region in February 2022.
Residents raised concerns about the two animals, prompting rangers from the council and the RSPCA to visit the island to check on the pair.
“Council Rangers and an RSPCA officer visited the island this week and carried out visual welfare checks on the two cattle,” a Tweed Shire Council ranger said.
‘Availability of suitable water, feed and shade has been confirmed.’
Local farmers have expressed interest in getting the animals from the island to the mainland.
Mr Hall said he could move the cattle from the site in about a week if there is less water.