Buffalo Has Mattresses Laid Out While Crossing Gravel

This buffalo is led across a gravel pathway by villagers laying down MATTRESSES to stop the animal from hurting his feet. The creature was on its way to fight in the controversial Do Son Buffalo Festival last year in Hai Phong, Vietnam. But after the water buffalo was led out from its field, owner Le Ba Vo discovered he could not walk the creature across a new driveway made of loose granite rocks. Le and his friends laid down a series of old bed mattresses for buffalo ''number 28’’ to step on - frantically picking up the last one and moving it to the front of the line. Onlooker Hang Thi Dinh said: ‘’There was an upgrade to the village road, which is great news for the residents. But it meant that the buffalo going to the fighting competition had sharp stones in its feet like nails. They put the cushion downs immediately and invited the buffalo to step on each one.’’ The traditional fighting festival involves buffalo fighting each other as a demonstration of sacrifice and bravery and homage to water goddesses. But this year buffalo owner Dinh Xuan Huong, 46, was killed when his animal gored him to death in an unexpected rage.