This girl from China and her water buffalo are breaking the internet with pure friendship goals

Animals need nothing more than a little love, and in return, they will bless people around them, making them feel special, like they belong. Similarly, Chen Dongmei, a girl from Sichuan, China, who goes by @chen_dongmei_202 on Instagram, has found a lifelong buddy in her pet — a water buffalo named Niuzai. Through her social media, she shares many heartwarming videos of herself and her adorable 2-year-old giant buddy joining in every adventure together as partners-in-crime.

From roaming in the open field to posing for selfies and showcasing sibling rivalry at its finest — stealing Dongmei's food like it's an Olympic game — Niuzai is the most ideal companion anyone can wish for. In a hilarious video, Dongmei captured how her water buffalo came running the moment he saw her enjoying a sugarcane all by herself. The girl was seen relishing every bit of the juicy sugarcane when she called Niuzai, who was calmly grazing on the grass at a distance. The moment he heard his name being called, the water buffalo came running towards her while Dongmei watched him in complete awe. After a bit of fun teasing, Dongmei happily shared her food with Niuzai, proving that true happiness lies in sharing.

This is not the only instance where Niuzai has prevented Dongmei from having treats without sharing them with him. Once, when the girl was enjoying a cucumber all by herself, her buffalo, as caught on camera, kept gently nudging her, as if asking her for his share. Interestingly, unlike animals who usually get aggressive upon seeing food, Niuzai was too gentle in his approach, too mindful about not hurting his best friend. The buffalo ensured that his horns didn't accidentally hurt Dongmei and maintained a respectful distance at all times.

In another video, Dongmei shared how, despite his massive physical appearance, Niuzai was just a sweet baby who could easily be intimidated by her dog. The girl recorded a playful chase between the water buffalo and her puppy, where Niuzai clearly looked threatened.

Let's just say Niuzai is lucky to have someone who loves and values him, but not all animals are this fortunate. A shocking report by Stakeholder estimates that worldwide, around 26 million water buffalo are slaughtered every year for their meat. In a world like that, Dongmei's story is a reminder that humanity still exists. The video has been receiving an outpouring of love from people all across the globe. An anonymous individual (u/j-jaidee) shared the story on Reddit. Reacting to the post, u/theresnowayoutahere wrote, "This is so amazing. Animals are way smarter than a lot of people give them credit for. He obviously has feelings for her, and I’m sure there’s food involved, but still." 

Another user, u/relevant-strategy-14, commented, "I need this to be an animated movie about their adventures. Thank you." Likewise, another user who goes by u/arroz-con-culo said, "Love to see farmers in Asia are more inclined to nature than we are. They are so inclined that they can bond with animals to this level." While the trend of slaughtering animals for the welfare of mankind is growing significantly, another study by ANI claims that Asian animals are thriving near humans, proving how their community is more kind towards nature. Citing a study led by the University of Queensland, the report said that massive creatures, like tigers and elephants, have been coexisting with humans despite facing the fear of extinction.

You can follow Chen Dongmei (@chen_dongmei_202) on Instagram for more such animal-related content.