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The farmer in Thailand who became friends with a buffalo The farmer in Thailand who became friends with a buffalo
(about 3 hours later)
It's not every day that you come across a man and his BFF - buffalo friend forever.It's not every day that you come across a man and his BFF - buffalo friend forever.
Thai farmer Surat Paewkate was never expecting to form a bond with buffalo Thong Kham when he first became his caretaker.Thai farmer Surat Paewkate was never expecting to form a bond with buffalo Thong Kham when he first became his caretaker.
The 34-year-old was paid to take care of the buffalo - but it slowly developed into a friendship. The 34-year-old was paid to take care of the buffalo - but he says it slowly developed into a friendship.
"Thong Kham is so sweet and canny," he told BBC Thailand. "He loves to walk in my paddy field with me on his back." "Thong Kham is so sweet and canny," he told BBC Thai. "He loves to walk in my paddy field with me on his back."
So it was only natural that he started to post selfies of himself with his beloved buffalo. So it was only natural that he started to post selfies with his beloved buffalo.
His photos quickly went viral, turning him and Thong Kham into instant internet celebrities in Thailand.His photos quickly went viral, turning him and Thong Kham into instant internet celebrities in Thailand.
But the story took another turn when Mr Surat revealed that Thong Kham would soon be sold to another owner. But the story took another turn when Mr Paewkate revealed that Thong Kham would soon be sold to another owner.
'I will keep him happy''I will keep him happy'
It all started two months ago when Mr Surat, who lives in the Thai province of Chainat, took up the job of becoming Thong Kham's caretaker. It all started two months ago when Mr Paewkate, who lives in the Thai province of Chainat, took up the job of becoming Thong Kham's caretaker.
The duo quickly struck up a friendship and earlier last week, he decided to take a couple of selfies with Thong Kham. He quickly struck up a friendship with the animal and last week decided to take a couple of selfies with Thong Kham.
After a few shots, he noticed that Thong Kham had learned to copy his actions.After a few shots, he noticed that Thong Kham had learned to copy his actions.
"Thong Kham started to copy my posture - [he would] look straight into the phone, move closer to me [and] even [start to look like] he was smiling," Mr Surat said. "Thong Kham started to copy my posture - [he would] look straight into the phone, move closer to me [and] even [start to look like] he was smiling," Mr Paewkate said.
He uploaded the photos on Facebook for his friends' amusement, and believes that they shared the pictures on their own profiles.He uploaded the photos on Facebook for his friends' amusement, and believes that they shared the pictures on their own profiles.
His post was soon shared 32,000 times, and requests poured in asking for more photos. His post was soon shared 32,000 times and requests poured in asking for more photos.
"[People] couldn't get enough of me and Thong Kham, they asked for more pictures," he said. "Some said just looking at the photos [made them] feel much better and [forget about] their hardships from their daily lives.""[People] couldn't get enough of me and Thong Kham, they asked for more pictures," he said. "Some said just looking at the photos [made them] feel much better and [forget about] their hardships from their daily lives."
But this friendship was almost torn apart when Thong Kham's owner - who had been paying Mr Surat to take care of him - decided to sell the buffalo to someone else. But this friendship was almost torn apart when Thong Kham's owner - who had been paying Mr Paewkate to take care of him - decided to sell the buffalo to someone else.
"I was quite upset [but] I did not have enough money to buy him," said Mr Surat, who explained his predicament to his newfound fans. "I was quite upset [but] I did not have enough money to buy him," said Mr Paewkate, who explained his predicament to his newfound fans.
He explained that he would need to raise 100,000 Thai Baht (THB) ($3,032, £2368) to buy Thong Kham - and people answered. He explained that he would need to raise 100,000 Thai Baht ($3,032, £2368) to buy Thong Kham - and people answered.
"Some of them told me... they were willing to donate [money]," he said. "So I decided to ask for donations.""Some of them told me... they were willing to donate [money]," he said. "So I decided to ask for donations."
Within two days, he raised a total of THB 135,969 - more than his initial target - and closed the crowd funding campaign. Within two days, he raised a total of THB135,969 and closed the crowd funding campaign.
In a Facebook post, he asked users to "make suggestions" as to what he should do with the remaining funds.In a Facebook post, he asked users to "make suggestions" as to what he should do with the remaining funds.
According to Mr Surat, he will officially become Thong Kham's owner in a ceremony on Thursday. According to Mr Paewkate, he will officially become Thong Kham's owner in a ceremony on Thursday.
He added that the ceremony will be presided by local government officers to maintain transparency, saying he wanted to be accountable to donors. He added that local government officers would be there to maintain transparency, saying he wanted to be accountable to donors.
"I have to thank everyone for this. I will keep Thong Kham happy all his life and post photos regularly. I welcome everyone who wants to visit Thong Kham," he said."I have to thank everyone for this. I will keep Thong Kham happy all his life and post photos regularly. I welcome everyone who wants to visit Thong Kham," he said.
"I [used to] dream about having a paddy field, a house and a buffalo I can ride when I go to work in the fields. With Thong Kham, my last dream has come true.""I [used to] dream about having a paddy field, a house and a buffalo I can ride when I go to work in the fields. With Thong Kham, my last dream has come true."
Reporting by the BBC's Thailand Busaba Sivasomboon Reporting by the BBC Thai's Busaba Sivasomboon.