The carer of water buffalo Thong Kham has taken the celebrity beast from Bangkok back to his home in Chai Nat province pending possible prosecution for seeking fraudulent donations.
Media reported on Sunday that Thong Kham (meaning gold) was enjoying swimming with three other buffaloes near the carer's house in tambon Suk Duean Ha of Noen Kham district. Local residents, including children, were playing with them and giving them "moral support".
Carer Surat Phaewket, 34, said that Thong Kham was tired on the way home from Kannayao police station in Bangkok on Saturday, but relaxed on Sunday morning when back in his natural habitat, no longer confined near the Bangkok police station.
Mr Surat said that he had missed the water buffalo since it was taken from Chai Nat to Bangkok on Tuesday and confined as police evidence in the case. The buffalo was reportedly depressed while at the police station.
He said he and the buffalo were happy when they were reunited. He thanked people for their support, which he said helped relieve his stress. He was now ready to face the justice system. He denied he had any fraudulent intention.
According to earlier reports, Mr Surat said via social media that the owner of Thong Kham, a water buffalo that could "smile", was planning to sell him to a slaughterhouse. Mr Surat sought donations so that he could buy the animal to save its life. He received about 100,000 baht.
Well-known lawyer Songkan Atchariyasap, a donor, later filed a complaint with Kannayao police in Bangkok after the buffalo's owner Boonlert Kanpakdee, a local administrator in tambon Sook Duean Ha, said he had no intention to sell the animal. He only hired Mr Surat to take care of Thong Kham because his house was flooded, he said.
