Animal sanctuary saves lonely water buffalo, 'Rufus', who doesn't fit in with the rest of the herd, until two more friends arrive and give him the forever family he hoped for: 'They've made their home in our pond and in so many hearts'

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Sep 11, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

It's tough to feel like you don't belong. Sometimes, the loneliness you feel in a crowd of people feels heavier than you feel when you're actually alone. Most animals are social creatures, hoomans included, and we need each other in order to survive. This is where friends and family come in. But what about rescue animals who arrive at a sanctuary with no friends or family at all? What must it feel like to be a water buffalo amidst a herd of cows? For once, we're not making a metaphor because that's what the video below is actually about.

Rufus, the water buffalo, was saved by an animal sanctuary last year, but he had trouble fitting in with their herd of cows. It broke our hearts to see him swimming all alone, looking at the other cows, wondering why they're not joining him. Luckily, the sanctuary was able to locate two more water buffalo who needed help, and they took them in as well. After an adjustment period, the three of them met… and they instantly became family. Now the three are often seen soaking in the sanctuary's pond as happy as, well, water buffalo in water!

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  • 01
    Earlier this year, we rescued our first water buffalo, named Rufus
    via austinfarmsanctuary
  • 02
    austinfarmsanctuary ♥Thanks to our recent collaboration with @thedodo, folks around the world have gotten to meet our beloved water buffalo club! **+
    via austinfarmsanctuary
  • 03
    Earlier this year, we rescued our first water buffalo, named Rufus
    via austinfarmsanctuary
  • 04
    This is the video that started it all just last year- when Rufus, once alone, found friendship and his forever family with Sonya and Mirabelle. Together they've made their home in our pond and in so many hearts.
    via austinfarmsanctuary
  • 05
    But he never quite fit in with the rest of the cows
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  • 06
    juststrongjen Did I just cry over a lonely water buffalo in the water by himself? Yup. Did I sob when there were 3 water buffalo in the water together? Yup again.
    via juststrongjen

  • In Elementary school, it was tough for us to make friends. We were kind of weird. We didn't have many friends. Later in life, we learned to accept our weirdness and wear it as a badge of pride, but we had some lonely pond times at recess, just like Rufus. Those years weren't very fun.

  • 07
    vstavi Bro was just chillen in the water like why don't you guys wanna hang in here?
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    Coincidentally, a couple months ago, we were made aware of two more water buffalo in need of sanctuary
    via austinfarmsanctuary
  • 09
    Until it was time for them to join the cow herd... and Rufus
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  • 10
    We weren't sure how it would go, since Rufus had likely never met another water buffalo
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    If you'd like to see more water buffalo love, let us know by liking, sharing, and commenting. We'll keep the buffalo content coming for y'all.
    via austinfarmsanctuary
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    But after some time getting to know each other
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    emily_ramirez_7 I'm so happy that Rufus has friends now. He must have been lonely in the pond all by himself. It was so cute seeing all three of the water buffalo with their heads just above the water. It really warmed my heart. Thank you so much for caring about your cow herd, and all the love and care that you show them on a daily basis.
    via emily_ramirez_7
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    steffiknrm ten
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    It's a very happy ending for our water buffalo club
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    bradysimmons6 The Pond Squad!
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    sarahrosekay Now I have to go back to work and explain I was crying because 3 water buffalos were in the pond together☺☺
    via sarahrosekay

  • One of the great things about being a writer for Animal Comedy is that we never have to explain why we're crying over three friendly water buffalo - it happens all the time here! If you don't hear someone giggling at a funny animal meme or cooing over a cute puppy, something is very wrong.

  • 18
    thatvegantiffany I think this is probably one my of favorite videos of all time
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    Ibowe407 Omg their faces in the water all together H
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    curiousrobyn27 Stooooop. The three of them happy in the water together ☺☺☺
    via curiousrobyn27
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    theartfuldennis My first genuine smile today came thanks to sweet faces of three little pond cows enjoying a cute little soak thank you together.
    via theartfuldennis
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    via austinfarmsanctuary

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Tags

animal sanctuary adorable heartwarming herd cute animals cute pond forever home animals cows water buffalo
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