This story is no bull.

A male water buffalo escaped from a Langley farm and went on a field trip Friday morning.

The ungulate checked out a neighbouring field, before roaming the parking lots of a nearby church, and the Langley Christian elementary, middle and high schools.

The escapade was 害羞草研究所榗haperoned害羞草研究所� by the animal害羞草研究所檚 owner, Brad Bennik, who was able to laugh about the unauthorized adventure, calling himself, 害羞草研究所楤uffalo Brad.害羞草研究所�

The action began just after 9 a.m. when the recently de-horned water buffalo decided it was not going to join the other 35 animals in the herd, and instead left through the front gate.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 only been here a couple of months,害羞草研究所� Bennik said, explaining the water buffalo was recently purchased from Vancouver Island.

害羞草研究所淗e wasn害羞草研究所檛 accustomed to being in the yard. (I guess) he wanted to see his surroundings.害羞草研究所�

Langley Christian Elementary School principal Susan Dick said they noticed the bull on their property around 10 a.m.

害羞草研究所淚t went to the swings, and the very edge of our property,害羞草研究所� Dick said. 害羞草研究所淚t made its way off our property and started charging west down 48 Avenue and ended up on our middle/high school property.害羞草研究所�

LAPS (Langley Animal Protection Society) was called to corral the animal and return it to its farm. They responded right away, Dick explained.

害羞草研究所淭hey were ultimately successful in getting it back,害羞草研究所� Dick said.

LAPS animal control officer Chloe Buskell used her vehicle to help assist the owner in getting the bull home, noted LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson.

害羞草研究所淪he blocked driveways to stop the bull from deviating from its path home,害羞草研究所� Nelson said.

Altogether, the adventure lasted about two and a half hours.

As the bull wandered around school property, the elementary campus was put on hold and secure, meaning the students were kept in their classrooms. Parents of pre-schoolers had to wait until all was clear, before picking up their children.

害羞草研究所淚t was huge, absolutely huge,害羞草研究所� Dick said, estimating that the animal weighed 2,000 pounds. 害羞草研究所淭he farmer came across (to the school) to apologize. He said it was gentle but definitely agitated.害羞草研究所�

The students watched the action from safety of their classrooms.

害羞草研究所淭hey were definitely excited and had to be reminded that this is a very big animal,害羞草研究所� Dick said. 害羞草研究所淚t was a bull but I never called it a bull, I just called it a water buffalo. We told the students that the animal was agitated and yelling at it or banging on the windows was not going to help.害羞草研究所�

Luckily, none of the students or the staff were injured and the water buffalo is secured.

害羞草研究所淔or the kids it害羞草研究所檚 just one of those stories they can recount to grandchildren for years to come,害羞草研究所� Dick said. 害羞草研究所淚 know I害羞草研究所檓 going to remember it.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� with files from Gary Ahuja