Finding the strength to go on
Heartbroken ‘Mowgli’ determined to carry on with his plans
KUALA TERENGGANU: Despite the loss of so many of his family’s buffaloes, Muhammad Syukur Khamis says the calamity will make him stronger.
The 15-year-old, who is fondly called Malaysian Mowgli, told Bernama he was heartbroken over the deaths of 56 of his family’s 110 buffaloes due to haemorrhagic septicaemia, a contagious bacterial disease.
“I am still a ‘Budok Kuba’ (buffalo boy). This ‘tsunami’ has strengthened my will to continue what I have been doing because I am sure that it will give me better rewards,” he said.
Muhammad Syukur, who is also known as the “Kampung Boy”, gained attention for his ability to interact with the animals.
Having grown up with them he preferred to spend time around the animals because it had a calming effect on him.
He said the unfortunate incident made him aware of the importance of vaccines and to be sensitive to the environment to prevent infections.
Meanwhile his father, Khamis Jusoh, said his children’s strength in facing the ordeal has motivated him to pick up the pieces.
The 64-year-old said seven of his eight children helped to dispose of the carcasses and were now making sure the rest of the herd was in optimum health.
He said the recent loss was his biggest since becoming a breeder 50 years ago.
“All my children returned home as soon as they were informed of this sad news and they have always given me encouragement.
“Before Muhammad Syukur became popular, we were insulted because they (the animals) were said to be smelly, but we carried on,” he said, when met by reporters at the animal enclosure in Kampung Kubang Bujuk, here.
Khamis said the outbreak had hampered his plan to switch to the feedlot system, but he was confident that Muhammad Syukur, the youngest of eight siblings, would realise the dream one day.
Khamis’ plan now is to increase the number of buffaloes and he wants his children to continue his work.
Bernama’s visit to the farm found Muhammad Syukur and his three other siblings – Muhamad Kamil, 31; Muhamad Alias, 30; and Norain Solehah, 21 – working hard around the enclosure.
Apart from feeding the remaining 54 healthy buffaloes, they were also installing fences around the compound to stop the animals from wandering out of the enclosure during the 14-day quarantine period.
Previously, a unique photo of the teenager with his pet taken by professional photographer Mohd Nazri Sulaiman clinched the grand prize for the Street/People category at the Asian Geographic: Images of Asia 2018 awards and it also earned Nazri the Remarkable Award at the 2018 Siena International Photography Awards in Italy.
Most recently, his picture taken by Yusuf Madi was uploaded as Asia 2020 Image for August by Asian Geographic for the People/Street category.