PHill, the water buffalo who evaded capture for four days last year, dies after sudden illness

PHill, the water buffalo who garnered statewide attention last year after he escaped from his owner in Pleasant Hill and led police on a chase through the town, has died after falling ill at his new home, Iowa Farm Sanctuary near Oxford.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Iowa Farm Sanctuary staff reported PHill — who was named after the Des Moines suburb he came from — was taken to Iowa State University’s Large Animal Hospital after he was found “lethargic, unsteady on his feet, and had stopped eating.” He was in critical condition, the post stated.

Friday morning, Iowa Farm Sanctuary posted an update, sharing that in the middle of the night, PHill “began to crash and his doctors called to tell us there was nothing they could do.”

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PHill gained notoriety last August, when he escaped from a small acreage in the Des Moines suburb. Pleasant Hill police fired a gun at the water buffalo, and a bullet struck him, but he ran away.

Animal rescue and control groups helped apprehend PHill four days later and he was treated at the Large Animal Hospital at ISU.

Iowa Farm Sanctuary, which specializes in former farm animals, negotiated with PHill’s owner to take ownership of the water buffalo and two other water buffaloes — Jane and Sal — that were on the owner’s property. The three animals arrived at the farm sanctuary in September.

Jered Camp, cofounder and president of the board of directors for Iowa Farm Sanctuary, told The Gazette PHill’s former owner had attempted to slaughter him, and that led to his escape.

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PHill, who was estimated to be between 2 and 3 years old, was described by Camp as “a laid back dude” who is “super chill.”

Iowa Farm Sanctuary has not published any details about what caused PHill’s illness this week. The Facebook post mentions several possibilities, including lead toxicity from the bullet that police shot at him and which remained inside him; severe infection; or a gastrointestinal blockage.

In announcing his death Friday, the sanctuary wrote, “PHill, our brave and bulletproof buffalo, you were so loved. You changed the world. We will miss you for a lifetime.”

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Elijah Decious of The Gazette contributed to this report.