NOBLE COW: MUNCHING GRASS LOOKING CURIOUS AND JUST HANGING AROUND
21.
Yvonne - The World Famous Runaway Cow
Wrapped In A Mystery Inside A Forest
In Germany, a dairy cow named Yvonne’s death-defying escape — and continued success in eluding capture — has become an incandescent symbol of freedom and animal dignity.
Now a popular subject on television and newspapers, Yvonne was being fattened up to be turned into steaks until she smashed through the electric fence of a farm in Aschau (Bavaria, Germany) and bounded off.
She escaped on May 24, 2011 and adopted a lifestyle that might be called Sherwoodian: sticking to forests, eluding police, and bringing acclaim and tourist dollars to her quaint village.
Curious visitors and search parties romped through the woods around Aschau, looking for signs of the cow.
Various bids to lure her back from the forest failed. They brought her calf and her best cow friend. They installed infrared cameras to find her.
Food traps were laid; a beagle hunting dog was enlisted. Other companion cows were sent in, to draw her out. But all to no avail.
Perhaps conceding the battle of wits - and the public-relations war - to the ruminant, officials hoped they can reach her through her heart. They brought in a male ox named Ernst, who they hoped would capture Yvonne’s heart, and lure her back to human society.
Even a helicopter, equipped with a heat-seeking camera, was used.
She fled the helicopter and simply ignored what media dubbed the “George Clooney of cattle.” Even Waltraud, Yvonne’s sister, couldn’t attract her out of the woods.
Yvonne was sold by an Austrian farmer to the farm in Aschau because she was nervous and jumpy. She was tethered for months, and her calf Friesi was taken away from her. Then one day she saw the other cows loading up to go off to the slaughterhouse, she decided that wasn’t for her and she decided not to be turned into steak.
She Knew Exactly What She Was Doing
In fact, the case of a cow that eluded the best efforts of its pursuers has raised questions about the intellect lurking behind those bovine eyes. Did Yvonne really learn to outmanoeuvre humans? Was the beast the master of this cat and mouse game? Then again, how smart are the humans who would send a helicopter out after a cow?
“Yvonne knows exactly what she’s doing, and she’s tricking us,” the manager of an animal rescue farm told a German newspaper.
Trackers who caught a glimpse of her claimed she had put on weight, which wasn’t surprising given the smorgasbord of delicacies available to her in and around the woods - juicy grass, ample supplies of apples and maize.
Once, in the dead of night, one intrepid tracker crept into the woods to stalk her. She appeared out of the mist, and stared him straight in the eyes. She walked off before he could fire a dart at her.
With every failed attempt to capture her, Yvonne’s fame grew, as did her ability to outsmart her pursuers. She wised up to the sound of rotor blades, car doors, walkie-talkies and mobile phones, dashing into the undergrowth as soon as she heard them.
Government pursuers complained that she had even grown accustomed to their shift rota, always staying out of sight in the afternoons when they had finished their lunch, and venturing out just before dawn when they were asleep.
One expert tracker was so determined to get her that he crept through the woods in his socks to avoid making a sound, but it was to no avail.
The World media portrayed Yvonne to be a kind of freedom fighter for the animals kingdom. This was a cow who refused to be cowed down. The media devoted as much attention to Yvonne’s exploits as they did to the euro debt crisis, nuclear energy policy and unrest in the Middle-East. Millions were transfixed and followed daily reports about her sightings. Her blog recorded thousands of hourly hits.
Telepathy Contact
Franziska Matti, an animal communication expert from Berne in Switzerland, said she had managed to contact Yvonne using telepathy. “I spoke to her yesterday and she said that she was fine but didn’t feel ready to come out of hiding,” said Matti.
“She said she knew that Ernst had been waiting for her but that she was scared. She said she thought that humans would lock her up and she would no longer be free.”
Shooting Orders
After she nearly collided with a police car, local authorities put a bounty on her head with a shoot-to-kill order, calling her “a public danger” and a “traffic hazard”.
Yvonne - The World Famous Runaway Cow
Wrapped In A Mystery Inside A Forest
In Germany, a dairy cow named Yvonne’s death-defying escape — and continued success in eluding capture — has become an incandescent symbol of freedom and animal dignity.
Now a popular subject on television and newspapers, Yvonne was being fattened up to be turned into steaks until she smashed through the electric fence of a farm in Aschau (Bavaria, Germany) and bounded off.
She escaped on May 24, 2011 and adopted a lifestyle that might be called Sherwoodian: sticking to forests, eluding police, and bringing acclaim and tourist dollars to her quaint village.
Curious visitors and search parties romped through the woods around Aschau, looking for signs of the cow.
Various bids to lure her back from the forest failed. They brought her calf and her best cow friend. They installed infrared cameras to find her.
Food traps were laid; a beagle hunting dog was enlisted. Other companion cows were sent in, to draw her out. But all to no avail.
Perhaps conceding the battle of wits - and the public-relations war - to the ruminant, officials hoped they can reach her through her heart. They brought in a male ox named Ernst, who they hoped would capture Yvonne’s heart, and lure her back to human society.
Even a helicopter, equipped with a heat-seeking camera, was used.
She fled the helicopter and simply ignored what media dubbed the “George Clooney of cattle.” Even Waltraud, Yvonne’s sister, couldn’t attract her out of the woods.
Yvonne was sold by an Austrian farmer to the farm in Aschau because she was nervous and jumpy. She was tethered for months, and her calf Friesi was taken away from her. Then one day she saw the other cows loading up to go off to the slaughterhouse, she decided that wasn’t for her and she decided not to be turned into steak.
She Knew Exactly What She Was Doing
In fact, the case of a cow that eluded the best efforts of its pursuers has raised questions about the intellect lurking behind those bovine eyes. Did Yvonne really learn to outmanoeuvre humans? Was the beast the master of this cat and mouse game? Then again, how smart are the humans who would send a helicopter out after a cow?
“Yvonne knows exactly what she’s doing, and she’s tricking us,” the manager of an animal rescue farm told a German newspaper.
Trackers who caught a glimpse of her claimed she had put on weight, which wasn’t surprising given the smorgasbord of delicacies available to her in and around the woods - juicy grass, ample supplies of apples and maize.
Once, in the dead of night, one intrepid tracker crept into the woods to stalk her. She appeared out of the mist, and stared him straight in the eyes. She walked off before he could fire a dart at her.
With every failed attempt to capture her, Yvonne’s fame grew, as did her ability to outsmart her pursuers. She wised up to the sound of rotor blades, car doors, walkie-talkies and mobile phones, dashing into the undergrowth as soon as she heard them.
Government pursuers complained that she had even grown accustomed to their shift rota, always staying out of sight in the afternoons when they had finished their lunch, and venturing out just before dawn when they were asleep.
One expert tracker was so determined to get her that he crept through the woods in his socks to avoid making a sound, but it was to no avail.
The World media portrayed Yvonne to be a kind of freedom fighter for the animals kingdom. This was a cow who refused to be cowed down. The media devoted as much attention to Yvonne’s exploits as they did to the euro debt crisis, nuclear energy policy and unrest in the Middle-East. Millions were transfixed and followed daily reports about her sightings. Her blog recorded thousands of hourly hits.
Telepathy Contact
Franziska Matti, an animal communication expert from Berne in Switzerland, said she had managed to contact Yvonne using telepathy. “I spoke to her yesterday and she said that she was fine but didn’t feel ready to come out of hiding,” said Matti.
“She said she knew that Ernst had been waiting for her but that she was scared. She said she thought that humans would lock her up and she would no longer be free.”
Shooting Orders
After she nearly collided with a police car, local authorities put a bounty on her head with a shoot-to-kill order, calling her “a public danger” and a “traffic hazard”.
Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it.
—Mark Twain
But an international hue and cry soon followed, forcing the district authority to revoke the orders.
The authority said in a statement, “As the animal no longer constitutes an acute threat to road traffic in its current location, no major search or capture operations are necessary. The Mühldorf district office requests that the animal not be disturbed in its current habitat.”
Yvonne finally had won her freedom, and could now roam to her heart’s content through the Bavarian forest where she has found refuge.
This was the news Yvonne’s army of fans had been waiting for. A Facebook page set up in her honor had over 27,000 friends, and media from around the world devoted copious column inches to her adventures, possibly in a bid to feature some light relief from the Libyan war and financial market turmoil. Her celebrity status evidently helped to protect her.
Bild, the tabloid German newspaper, offered •10,000 ($14,500) for information leading to her safe capture, and provided almost daily coverage of the hunt, even paying a vet to examine one of her cowpats. He declared she was healthy and well-fed.
Hindus of The World Come Out In Support
Prominent Hindus, for whom cows are sacred, weighed in with calls on German authorities to protect Yvonne.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) argued that decision of the authorities giving permission to shoot her was “ill advised” and should be immediately withdrawn.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, applauded the efforts of animal rights groups to save her. Hindus would gladly adopt “Yvonne”, Zed stressed.
The authority said in a statement, “As the animal no longer constitutes an acute threat to road traffic in its current location, no major search or capture operations are necessary. The Mühldorf district office requests that the animal not be disturbed in its current habitat.”
Yvonne finally had won her freedom, and could now roam to her heart’s content through the Bavarian forest where she has found refuge.
This was the news Yvonne’s army of fans had been waiting for. A Facebook page set up in her honor had over 27,000 friends, and media from around the world devoted copious column inches to her adventures, possibly in a bid to feature some light relief from the Libyan war and financial market turmoil. Her celebrity status evidently helped to protect her.
Bild, the tabloid German newspaper, offered •10,000 ($14,500) for information leading to her safe capture, and provided almost daily coverage of the hunt, even paying a vet to examine one of her cowpats. He declared she was healthy and well-fed.
Hindus of The World Come Out In Support
Prominent Hindus, for whom cows are sacred, weighed in with calls on German authorities to protect Yvonne.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) argued that decision of the authorities giving permission to shoot her was “ill advised” and should be immediately withdrawn.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, applauded the efforts of animal rights groups to save her. Hindus would gladly adopt “Yvonne”, Zed stressed.
When these people take these cows to the slaughterhouse, animal stockyard, they understand. Very recently, about few years ago, some..., that animal stock store was some way or other broken and all the cows began to... Perhaps you know. It was published in the... And they were shot down. Shot to death. They were fleeing like anything, that “We shall save ourselves.”
—Srila Prabhupada (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.4 — Mayapura, June 19, 1973)
Rajan Zed pointed out: Cow is worshipped by Hindus world over. Rig-Veda, the oldest existing scripture of the mankind, describes cow as aghnya (not slayable). Lord Krishna, shown as cowherd many times, is also known as Gopala (protector of cows). There is a belief that cow was created the same day as Brahma (creator god). Also referred as “Mother Cow”, this divine animal, venerated from an early period, is the abode of many deities in Hinduism. Mahatma Gandhi reportedly said, “I yield to none in my worship of the cow”.
Until The Cow Comes Home
In the end, undone by loneliness, Yvonne turned herself in, wandering near a farm in the town of Muhldorf and trying to engage the other cows grazing there. She apparently got tired of being lonely, after three months on the run.
Konrad Gutmann, 46, claimed the •10,000 reward offered by the German tabloid Bild after the seemingly lonely animal wandered into his meadows to befriend his cows. “It was just luck really. I was out taking a tour of my electric fence with my daughter Melanie at about 6pm when I saw Yvonne on the other side staring at the young cows.
“She seemed lonely,” Gutmann told the Daily Mail. “She went back into the woods when she saw us. I got up behind her and my daughter gathered the cows in one area of the field.” The cow was finally herded into the field. “She was very nervous,’ added the farmer. “You could see the stress of the past days and weeks had taken its toll on her.”
The Gut Aiderbichl animal sanctuary promptly moved Yvonne to her new home. They were able to confirm her identify by the tag on her ear.
In keeping with the bullish nature that had preserved her freedom until now, Yvonne did not go quietly. Pictures reveal she put up a significant fight before being tranquillised on and transported to the sanctuary.
It was a dramatic end to a story that gripped the World for much of the summer in 2011.
Until The Cow Comes Home
In the end, undone by loneliness, Yvonne turned herself in, wandering near a farm in the town of Muhldorf and trying to engage the other cows grazing there. She apparently got tired of being lonely, after three months on the run.
Konrad Gutmann, 46, claimed the •10,000 reward offered by the German tabloid Bild after the seemingly lonely animal wandered into his meadows to befriend his cows. “It was just luck really. I was out taking a tour of my electric fence with my daughter Melanie at about 6pm when I saw Yvonne on the other side staring at the young cows.
“She seemed lonely,” Gutmann told the Daily Mail. “She went back into the woods when she saw us. I got up behind her and my daughter gathered the cows in one area of the field.” The cow was finally herded into the field. “She was very nervous,’ added the farmer. “You could see the stress of the past days and weeks had taken its toll on her.”
The Gut Aiderbichl animal sanctuary promptly moved Yvonne to her new home. They were able to confirm her identify by the tag on her ear.
In keeping with the bullish nature that had preserved her freedom until now, Yvonne did not go quietly. Pictures reveal she put up a significant fight before being tranquillised on and transported to the sanctuary.
It was a dramatic end to a story that gripped the World for much of the summer in 2011.
Bright Future Beckons
Yvonne’s fate became internationally known because she made a clear statement: ‘I am an animal, I can live in the forest, and I don’t want to have anything to do with humans because they have treated me badly.’
Wildlife charity Gut Aiderbichl, which purchased Yvonne, said in a statement, “Yvonne truly fought for her freedom. She shown the world that the urge to be free is strong — even for a cow.”
Michael Aufhauser, the founder of the charity said, “Yvonne’s odyssey has finally drawn attention to the plight of cows. People tend to ignore cattle even though they are such important animals for us. Now they are talking about the conditions in which cattle are kept, transported and slaughtered.”
Yvonne’s transformation from an ordinary, if unhappy, dairy cow into an increasingly shaggy wild beast also revealed that cows still retain the powerful survival instincts in spite of their long domestication. This also shows that, deep down, cows have a fire in their four bellies for freedom just like humans.
For Yvonne now a bright future beckons. She has been taken to a sanctuary that describes itself as “positively Indian” in its respect for animals. There, she will be able to live out her days grazing peacefully alongside her son Friesi and her sister Waltraud, who have also been purchased by the sanctuary.
A Cow Humanised
Yvonne was a run-of-the-mill farm cow but reporting on this runaway cow humanised her. Not only was “who” used to refer to it, but “she” and “her” as well.
In another sense she was not “a run-of-the-mill farm cow.” To begin with, she has a human name, Yvonne, and a sister with the name Waltraut. There is also a bull named Ernst and she has a son too. Who wouldn’t be tempted to humanise this story? Yvonne also seems to be unusually spirited.
Yvonne’s fate became internationally known because she made a clear statement: ‘I am an animal, I can live in the forest, and I don’t want to have anything to do with humans because they have treated me badly.’
Wildlife charity Gut Aiderbichl, which purchased Yvonne, said in a statement, “Yvonne truly fought for her freedom. She shown the world that the urge to be free is strong — even for a cow.”
Michael Aufhauser, the founder of the charity said, “Yvonne’s odyssey has finally drawn attention to the plight of cows. People tend to ignore cattle even though they are such important animals for us. Now they are talking about the conditions in which cattle are kept, transported and slaughtered.”
Yvonne’s transformation from an ordinary, if unhappy, dairy cow into an increasingly shaggy wild beast also revealed that cows still retain the powerful survival instincts in spite of their long domestication. This also shows that, deep down, cows have a fire in their four bellies for freedom just like humans.
For Yvonne now a bright future beckons. She has been taken to a sanctuary that describes itself as “positively Indian” in its respect for animals. There, she will be able to live out her days grazing peacefully alongside her son Friesi and her sister Waltraud, who have also been purchased by the sanctuary.
A Cow Humanised
Yvonne was a run-of-the-mill farm cow but reporting on this runaway cow humanised her. Not only was “who” used to refer to it, but “she” and “her” as well.
In another sense she was not “a run-of-the-mill farm cow.” To begin with, she has a human name, Yvonne, and a sister with the name Waltraut. There is also a bull named Ernst and she has a son too. Who wouldn’t be tempted to humanise this story? Yvonne also seems to be unusually spirited.
Anybody for some Yvonne burgers? I didn’t think so. Why is it we feel uncomfortable eating an animal with a name, when all of the nameless others like her have just as much personality and will to live?
— Roger Perrone
What the public found chilling in the story was how hunters were encouraged to shoot Yvonne on sight, with a promise of a huge reward, and how a lot of people were driven by greed to try to catch the poor cow.
As it happened, Germans only now realise that there is something special about the bovine known affectionately as Yvonne, which has since captured the hearts of a nation.
Better late than steaks, some might say.
As it happened, Germans only now realise that there is something special about the bovine known affectionately as Yvonne, which has since captured the hearts of a nation.
Better late than steaks, some might say.
I have seen in New Vrindaban. One cow, she was crying because her calf was taken away. So she was feeling so sorry. Now in our New Vrindaban, we see how the cows are happy, how they are dealing. They are not afraid. This is our duty, to keep the cows happy. Just like I want to see my wife and children happy, similarly, it is the duty of the human society to see that the cows feeling very happy. This is human civilization. Otherwise it is tiger civilization, meateaters. Meat is not eaten by human being. It is eaten by the dogs, by the tigers, by the animals.
So we have created a society for killing cows and eating the meat and maintaining slaughterhouse in the name of religion. This is going on. So how we can be happy? There cannot be happiness. It is not a sentiment. Therefore this is most sinful activity, meat-eating, cow killing. Most sinful activity. And you have to suffer for that. Unfortunately, these rascals, they do not know that what is the result of this sinful activity. They think the life will go on, and there is no more life. “After finishing of this body, everything will be finished.”
Atheistic theory. Bhasmi-bhutasya dehasya kutah punar agamano bhavet. Kutah. “Oh, who is coming?” But that they do not know, rascals. We get information from Krsna, tatha dehantara-praptih:
“Oh, you have to accept another body after finishing this body.” But they are not responsible. They are so irresponsible, they do not care for the next life, the result of pious and sinful activities.
— Srila Prabhupada (Lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.4, London, November 25, 1973)