In a bewildering spectacle that had NJ Transit riders rubbing their eyes in disbelief, a steer - yes, a real live cattle - found its way onto the train tracks at Newark's Penn Station. The misplaced ruminant temporarily obstructed the daily commute, causing traffic delays that lasted for several hours.
The steer, around a year and a half in age and identified as a Texas Longhorn, has since been affectionately named Ricardo. His wild adventure ended safely, thanks to a tranquilizer that allowed him to be moved with minimal fuss. On-site authorities managed to control the situation and get the animal safety off the tracks.
Ricardo was immediately transported to a local animal sanctuary, the Skylands Animal Sanctuary, for immediate care. Unfortunately, when first discovered by the team, Ricardo was flat on his side, a position that's not favorable for bovines. But at the time of reporting, he had been moved into a sternal position, on his chest-like, upright, looking much brighter and undeniably handsome.
It is still uncertain how Ricardo managed to end up on Penn Station's tracks, though a credible theory suggests that he was being moved to a nearby slaughterhouse and saw an opportunity for escape when daylight broke.
Having charged at the police in a clear display of fear and stress during the initial encounter, Ricardo his since been showing signs of improvement, though he's yet to stand up on his own without assistance.
For now, Ricardo remains at the Skylands Animal Sanctuary, where he’s receiving proper care and plenty of attention. His visitors hope to see him standing soon, a sign of complete recovery from his adventurous but highly stressful day at Newark’s Penn Station. Despite the disruption caused, many have found his resilience commendable, and remain interested in his progress.
This fascinating event may serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the surprising compassion that can be found in the most unexpected of situations.
