A special encounter

Over two years ago, while traveling from their home in Binh Khe, Quang Ninh to the Yen Tu forest in search of medicinal herbs, Nguyen Van Quang (42) and his wife stumbled upon a trembling buffalo calf, still with its umbilical cord attached, standing by the roadside.

Assuming its mother was nearby foraging, they continued on their way. But when they returned, on their way back down the mountain at dusk, they found the calf still in the same spot.

“It was getting dark, and we didn’t have any food. We could only mix some sugar water to help it regain strength. We thought the owner must be looking for it, and since we were on a motorbike with a long ride home, we had to leave the calf in the forest,” Quang recalled.

Upon returning home, he posted a piece of news on looking for the owner of the calf. After receiving no response overnight, he returned to the forest the next day, bringing fresh milk in case he found the calf again.

After days of searching without no one claiming it, the couple grew attached to the lost animal and worried it might not survive in the wild. On their next trip to the forest, Quang and his wife decided to bring the calf home.

Normally, the couple’s 10km mountain journey took about an hour. Meanwhile, bringing the calf home took three to four hours due to steep, treacherous slopes where they had to walk.

The 37-38°C heat exhausted both the couple and the calf, requiring frequent stops to rest and drink water.

To avoid accusations of theft, they proactively recorded the entire process of bringing the calf down the mountain and continued posting to find its owner, including their personal phone number.

About a week later, a man from a neighboring commune contacted Quang, confirming he was the calf’s owner. He explained that the mother buffalo had a habit of abandoning her offspring after birth and was unable to care for it. If returned, the mother would likely reject the calf.

Initially, Quang and his wife planned to return the calf if they found its owner. After understanding the situation, they agreed to keep raising the calf, with the owner’s consent.

They paid the owner a reasonable sum, recognizing that the calf was a significant asset to a farmer, representing their hard work and effort over time.

At its new home, Quang named the calf ‘Map’ (Chubby), hoping it would lead a prosperous, healthy life. Not only the couple but their entire family was delighted to have a new “member.”

“Since the day it arrived, Map quickly adapted and followed us everywhere. Every time we returned from the forest, Map would run out to greet us, nuzzling our legs like a little child.

It even learned to use the designated spot for relieving itself after just a few instructions. Everyone in the village praises how affectionate and smart it is,” Quang shared enthusiastically.

The beloved child

In the early days, Map was cared for like a household pet. The calf was very attached to people, enjoying playtime with the couple’s children. Over the past year, as Map grows up and becomes larger, the couple built a spacious pen with an open area for it to roam.

“Now Map is much bigger, around 200kg with horns, so I keep a close eye on it. The kids also avoid getting too close, as it’s harder to cuddle like before, partly because Map’s bulky body could accidentally bump or step on them, risking injury,” Quang explained.

Despite their busy schedules, the couple regularly bathes Map as the animal loves affection and closeness. This also ensures hygienic pet care, keeping flies and mosquitoes at bay and maintaining a clean living environment.

Besides grass and leaves, Map is given forest herbs like liver-cooling grass and beeswax. It also enjoys snacks and fruits, especially guava.

Though a familiar farm animal, Quang noticed Fat has some “exceptional” traits, such as recognizing its owner’s voice, distinguishing the sound of their motorbike, and following signals from its caretakers.

Map is a familiar farm animal, but Quang noticed it has some “exceptional” traits, such as recognizing its owner’s voice, distinguishing the sound of their motorbike, and following signals from its caretakers.

“When it was young, Map was friendly with strangers, but now that it’s grown, it’s wary of close contact with outsiders. It’s like a teenager, sometimes he stays obedient, sometimes stubborn, and afraid of being scolded,” Quang said humorously.

Ha Nguyen