While we all know that carnival in Switzerland involves early mornings, stunning costumes, off-key music and a fair share of drinking, one celebration in Ticino may have taken it too far. On the morning after the celebration, a local man in Magadino discovered that a cow had found a home in his pool.
Every year, the residents of the Ticinese town of Magadino let their hair down at the annual carnival celebration. This year, visitors were delighted by delicious Swiss food, interesting ceremonies and music which lasted into the night.
Crucially, the celebrations also included a march of around 40 Swiss cows, which made their way through the town. It is likely that at this point, the resident’s memories start to blur, as celebrations continued and the drinks kept flowing.
When one resident awoke the morning after the night before, he must have assumed that he was still drunk, as sitting in the middle of his swimming pool was one of the cows. A quick call later, the emergency services arrived to help the stricken animal.
In a statement, the Suzy Utzinger Foundation for Animal Welfare confirmed that animal safety officers, with the help of a tractor, were able to free the cow and return her to the flock. “What initially appears amusing presented those involved with a demanding challenge that could only be mastered with professional know-how and special equipment,” they added.
"This story may seem strange, but it impressively demonstrates the importance of a professional large animal rescue service,” noted Ticino animal rescue service member Joachim Mock. How the cow ended up in the pool, much like the memory of many an escapade on a night out, remains unclear.
Video: SUSY UTZINGER STIFTUNG / YouTube
Thumb image credit: GRTD base Ticino / Susy Utzinger Stiftung für Tierschutz