“Twenty-five years ago, a story broke in Chiang Mai, Thailand about a Buffalo who ran for her life from a slaughterhouse. Covered in blood and with a deep wound around her neck, she bolted down the motorway, terrified and desperate. Local radio stations warned the public to stay alert—calling her “a mad Buffalo,” with some reporters even labeling her a “crazy ghost Buffalo,” claiming she was crashing into cars as she fled. We rushed to the scene and found her drenched in blood, a bullet having grazed her forehead—thankfully, it hadn’t pierced her skull. We fought to save her life, refusing to send her back to the slaughterhouse, even as angry voices demanded compensation for their damaged cars and called for her to be killed. With help from kind-hearted people, we rescued her. The very next morning, in her new home, she gave birth to a baby boy. We named her Mae Sroy, after the scar around her neck, and her son Chokdee, meaning “Lucky.” Since then, Mae Sroy and her son have lived peacefully among the Buffalo herd at Save Elephant Foundation. Now very old—Buffaloes typically live around 26–27 years—Mae Sroy can no longer walk with the herd. Her son has grown up to become the leader, while Mae Sroy has moved closer to our shelter for more attentive care. She now eats only finely ground, soft food, as her teeth have worn down with age. Then came the recent flood. Though her shelter was on higher ground, a sudden flash flood swept over the barriers, destroying everything—including Mae Sroy’s home. She was gone. We searched everywhere, fearing the worst. Our hearts were heavy, believing our beloved old buffalo could not have survived the raging waters. But on the third morning, a miracle happened: We found her—lying in the mud where her shelter once stood. She had come home. When she saw us, she called out, and we cried with joy. I ran to her, and she answered with soft, happy grunts, full of life and relief. Mae Sroy had survived once again. She truly is a Buffalo with nine lives. This is the story of one life we saved. At our sanctuary, every animal has a name, a story, and a soul. They are not just Buffaloes or Elephants—they are living beings with meaning and worth. Mae Sroy once ran from death to protect the life growing inside her. And now, once again, she has run from death to protect her own. She is a true survivor, and we will care for Grandma Mae Sroy with all our hearts for the rest of her days” ~ Lek Chailert. 🙏