KATHMANDU, June 2: Nearly five months after Mayakumari's death, Sneha Shrestha of Sneha's Care posted an emotional tribute: "We have no choice but to see your reflection in your daughter's face. We will always remember you through her."
On Friday, Sneha wrote another heartfelt message:
"You became a shadow for two days and left. If I could, I would give my life for you. Just come back once, dear Maicha. I will hold you in my arms and cry."
This story is not about humans but about a buffalo and her calf that have touched many hearts. Mayakumari survived a brutal butcher's axe blow to protect her unborn calf, while Maicha lived a lonely life.
This is how the story of Mayakumari and Maicha begins:
Mayakumari fought off the butcher's hammer to escape death that would have turned her into a meat dish two years ago. After producing less milk, her owners sold her for slaughter. In a desperate bid to survive, she ran onto the main road.
While fleeing, she entered a school compound and hid. Even then, people tried to kill her. Fortunately, animal rights activists stepped in, insisted on rescuing her instead of killing her, and took her to a shelter-saving her life just in time.
"At that time, the buffalo suffered terribly. A hammer had wounded her head, her horn was broken, and blood oozed from her eyes," recalled Sneha from Sneha's Care. "Witnessing such inhumane cruelty brought tears to all our eyes."
Sneha's heart broke even more when she discovered the buffalo was two months pregnant. "That moment deepened our love for her," she said. "We felt immense pride in her struggle to protect the life growing inside her."
Sneha said they brought the buffalo to Sneha's care, nursed her back to health, and she gave birth to a calf around Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May). "We treat every animal here with the same respect we give humans," she said. "That's why we lovingly named the calf 'Maicha' (daughter)."
Although the buffalo recovered to some extent after treatment, she remained weak. Still, she produced enough milk for Maicha. "Two of her teats didn't produce milk," Sneha said, "but the other two gave enough to fill Maicha's belly."
After arriving at the shelter, they named the buffalo Mayakumari. She lived peacefully with other cows, buffaloes, and animals.
Despite all the care they gave her, the wounds from the earlier attack continued to trouble her, and her condition gradually worsened. "She couldn't even stand for about seven days," Sneha said. "In the end, Mayakumari passed away."
Sneha Shrestha shared that Mayakumari's effort to protect Maicha deeply moved everyone, even after her death. "We felt she had lived solely for Maicha," Sneha said. "Mayakumari died just after Maicha started eating grain and grass."
They honored Mayakumari's love for all animals by giving her a respectful farewell. Sneha said they made sure other animals could witness the funeral. "What truly broke our hearts was seeing Maicha try to nurse even after Mayakumari had died," she said. "Maicha stood by, crying, as we lowered Mayakumari's body into the ground."
Sneha wrote an emotional post on social media after Mayakumari died:
"Goodbye, dear Mayakumari. We have no choice but to erase your reflection by looking at Maicha's face-the symbol of your love. Today, grief chokes our throats. Your absence has left our home empty. With tearful eyes, we offer you our heartfelt tribute."
But Maicha- the living symbol of Mayakumari- is gone too. While grazing near a riverbank, she ate discarded food mixed with plastic and metal fragments, which caused severe complications in her stomach. The team rushed to perform surgery and removed the foreign objects, but Sneha said they could not save her.
Sneha had planned to celebrate Maicha's birthday with joy, but sorrow cut those preparations short. She wept at Maicha's death and once again poured her heart into a farewell post.
Sneha’s Post:
Dear Maicha,
I rescued your mother from the jaws of death,
and finding you doubled my joy.
It feels like just yesterday when you were born, and I celebrated,
and today my chest burns with sorrow in your absence.
How can I believe this news?
How do I mourn your loss?
Maybe this was all our fate, this was how our story was meant to be written,
With a heart full of love,
you became a shadow for just two days and left.
If I could, I would give my life for you,
Just come back once, dear Maicha,
I will hold you in my arms and cry.
I will do all the care and service I owe you,
I'm sure you searched for me in your last moments,
You must have waited for your mother to come.
Cruel fate snatched you away,
Where will I find you now?
Only your memories and footprints remain,
May I always see you in the colors of the rainbow,
May I feel you in the breeze,
Come to me sometimes in my dreams,
Let me know how you are
I pray for your peaceful rest in heaven, dear Maicha.
Goodbye!!!