Can Cows Swim?

Udiapur - Swimming Cow
Originally uploaded by mischamac.

Although I've never before pondered this question, we had the opportunity to find out the answer a few days ago in Udaipur. We noticed a cow about 50 feet from the shore of Lake Pichola. Only his horns, eyes and snout were poking above the surface. So it turns out cows can swim - there's only one problem...they appearantly can't swim in any particular direction, but rather in an endless doughnut about 10 feet in diameter. The result is that this confused animal would likely swim itself to exhaustion before eventually drowning.

As we watched the scene, word of the cow in distress quickly spread around the nieghborhood. Soon dozens of people were on the water's edge with decidedly concerned looks on their faces. A couple of guys went running off at full speed and several minutes later reappeared on the water on one of the tourist paddle boats mored on the other side. When they reached the tiring cow one of them leaned over the boat's edge and grabbed ahold of its horns. They slowly paddled him towards the shore where we were all standing. Eventually they reached the water's edge - and that's were the hard work began. It took more than half a dozen men nearly 20 minutes to drag, prod, push the now totaly exhausted animal up the rocky shore. Several woman approached when the cow collapsed on the wet rocks to offer a kind touch under the neck and some chipati bread. We were truly relieved when the cow finally was able to stand up, navigate the rocks, and walk to safety.

What struck me most about the whole episode was the look of total concern several people had on their faces as they watched the nearly drowning cow. It was as if someone in their own family was suffering. I've heard about the holiness that cows are bestowed in Indian culture, but it wasn't until that moment that I truly comprehended its importance.