The Buffalo Beach

Daniel Robinson

In the coastal town of Mui Wo water buffalo walk alongside people. Abandoned by the farming community for the big city they feed, mate, and wonder around the mountainous environment, but spend much time in the little town.

One day me and my friend Jack were spending a sunny Sunday at the beach. As were the buffalo. The herd sprawled in the sand sunbathing, some of the youngsters splashing playfully in the shallows.

This was very normal for Mui Wo so we thought nothing of it. I was learning to poi (a kind of circus act), when jack, looking over my shoulder and pointing seemingly mesmerised in shock proclaimed ‘buffalo’. As I turned and joined in the mesmerized shock as I saw a huge horned bull stampeding towards us. We stepped to the side almost mechanically, and the buffalo shot past , so close and so fast you could feel the air it moved like a gust of wind. We saw the reason for the commotion as a second larger male chased after.

Throughout the remainder of the afternoon the ritual repeated several times (though we both stayed well out of the way). The smaller male would trot hopefully back towards the herd, only to be chased away again. It was a game of dominance, a game that nearly saw me and Jack as collateral damage.