Many of us are aware that our animal friends are just as capable of emotions as we are. We may not necessarily understand each other, but the language of compassion, empathy and kindness are universal across all species, human or animal. Which is what makes this video from UNILAD all the more tragic. Warning, you’re going to want to have your tissues ready.
The video, which was originally uploaded by Pear Video, shows a cow that was about to be led to a slaughterhouse to be killed. The incident was apparently filmed in Shantou City, Guangdong, China, where the slaughterhouse is located.
Despite being pregnant, the cow was sent off to be killed and sold as beef, and it remains uncertain if the abattoir (slaughterhouse) knew that the cow was pregnant at the time before picking her out for slaughter.
Source: youtube
Throughout the beginning of the video, the cow can be seen hesitantly being led along in the mud, clearly refusing to move towards her untimely fate. Her feet drag along the mud, and the slaughterhouse workers had difficulty pulling her with them.
But what shocked them most is that the cow suddenly knelt down on its front legs, appearing to beg them to spare her life.
The cow was also said to have started shedding tears as she was being dragged along, which convinced many viewers that the cow was truly desperate to live, for both her own sake and that of her unborn calf.
Source: youtube
After the video was uploaded and went viral, animal lovers in China banded together and prevented her from being brought into the slaughterhouse to be killed. Lin Wangbo, a local resident who was a part of the efforts in saving the cow, said:
“While being taken to the slaughterhouse, the cow started kneeling. At the slaughterhouse, when the man tried to lead the cow inside, it knelt down again and started crying.
He took a video and put it online, then we got in touch with him asking him not to slaughter the cow.”
Buying the cow over from the slaughterhouse, they crowdfunded over 24,950 RMB (RM 14,668.28) and successfully saved her from certain death. The cow was then taken over to a local Buddhist temple, where she will likely give birth. Whatever funds leftover will go to the temple itself.
Source: youtube
In a final gesture that really brought tears to our eyes, the cow knelt down in front of her rescuers, as though thanking them for saving her life!
Whether if this is genuine proof of an animal’s capacity for emotion or not, we are grateful that the cow and her unborn calf were saved and are now in a safe place!
Also read: Video: 2 Kind M’sian Men Rescue Injured Dog From Owner Who Wanted To Abandon It
