24 water buffalo escaped Tesfa Farms, surprising Surrey’s Fleetwood & Port Kells. RCMP & locals helped round them up safely.
Buffalo on the Loose: Surrey’s Most Unexpected Morning Commute
It’s not every day you spot a herd of water buffalo ambling down a suburban street, but that’s exactly what happened in Surrey on the morning of June 11. Residents of the normally quiet neighborhoods of Fleetwood and Port Kells were stunned to find themselves face-to-face with 24 large, horned visitors walking calmly past their homes. What started as a routine morning for many turned into a surreal and unforgettable scene—part wildlife encounter, part traffic disruption, and all completely unexpected.
Videos and photos of the buffalo strolling through residential streets quickly went viral. Some captured the herd weaving between parked cars, wandering through front yards, and even pausing as if taking in the local sights. Within hours, “Surrey buffalo” was trending on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with users reacting in disbelief and humor.
One post read, “Only in Surrey can your morning dog walk turn into a buffalo safari.” Another joked, “When you said you wanted to see wildlife in the city, I didn’t think you meant 24 buffalo on my front lawn.”
Escape from Tesfa Farms
The mystery was quickly solved when Tesfa Farms, a local urban farming operation in the area, confirmed the buffalo were theirs. In a statement shared on social media later that day, the farm identified the escapees as 24 female heifers who had managed to breach the farm’s fencing.
“We are incredibly grateful to the community members and the three RCMP officers who came to our aid so quickly,” Tesfa Farms wrote. “Thanks to everyone’s calm efforts, all of our animals were rounded up safely and returned home without injury.”
While it may sound like a scene from a countryside comedy, the situation was taken seriously by both the farm and the authorities. Large livestock like water buffalo can pose safety concerns when wandering into traffic or populated areas, even when the animals are generally calm.
How Did They Get Out?
According to Tesfa Farms, the incident wasn’t the result of negligence but rather one of the ongoing challenges that come with operating an agricultural property in an urban environment.
“We routinely check our fences and secure all enclosures,” the farm explained. “However, being in the city brings challenges that rural farms don’t face—frequent trespassing and unleashed dogs often agitate the animals and sometimes cause damage to fences or gates.”
This time, it appears a damaged section of fencing was enough to provide the herd with a path to freedom. Despite their intimidating size, water buffalo are known for being relatively docile and curious creatures. Their wanderings weren’t aggressive—just exploratory. Luckily, the animals’ familiarity with their handlers helped tremendously during the recovery process.
“The herd knows us,” a Tesfa Farms representative said. “That made it easier to approach them and guide them back safely.”
The Power of Community
What could have turned into chaos was quickly brought under control, thanks in large part to quick-thinking neighbors and the help of local RCMP officers. Residents reported seeing officers and farm staff walking alongside the buffalo, calmly herding them back toward their pasture with minimal disruption. There were no reports of property damage or injuries.
“People were patient and helpful,” said one witness. “They kept their distance, stayed calm, and gave the animals room. It was pretty amazing to see everyone work together.”
The farm also praised the community’s response and asked people not to approach the animals in the future if a similar situation arises. Instead, they encourage residents to alert the authorities or the farm directly.
Viral Fame
Within hours, the story had captured attention far beyond Surrey. Local media outlets picked up the footage, and news of the roaming buffalo was soon shared across Canada and even internationally. While the incident ended peacefully, its bizarre and somewhat whimsical nature made it the perfect kind of story to lift people’s spirits.
From buffalo memes to mock movie posters titled “Surrey Drift: Buffalo Edition,” the internet had a field day. Some joked that the buffalo were just trying to beat the morning traffic, while others imagined they were staging a great escape for a taste of city life.
A Wake-Up Call for Urban Farming
For Tesfa Farms, the event served as a reminder of the complexities of maintaining livestock in an increasingly urbanized setting. As more farms adapt to city life—either for land availability, community outreach, or sustainability reasons—incidents like this highlight the importance of strong fencing, responsive community ties, and contingency planning.
“Urban farming isn’t just about growing food in the city,” Tesfa Farms said. “It’s about building relationships with your neighbors, educating the public, and finding ways to coexist with the surrounding environment.”
The Herd is Home
Fortunately, all 24 water buffalo are now safely back where they belong, and the residents of Surrey have a new story to share—one that blends humor, community spirit, and a touch of the unexpected.
As one local summed it up, “We thought it was just another Tuesday. Then the buffalo showed up.”
