Search for Connecticut’s Buddy the Beefalo chronicled in viral video

The Dodo, an animal-related Facebook page with over 28 million followers, has posted a new video chronicling the eight-month search for Connecticut’s Buddy the Beefalo.

The video, which was posted on Sept. 13, spotlights Capt. Ed Benecchi, of the Plymouth Police Department, who dedicated himself to find the elusive beefalo. It has amassed 3 million views and over 60,000 likes on Facebook.

“I figured we’d be able to catch him quickly and get him back to the farmer,” Benecchi said in the video. “I was worried for him.”

The police attempted to capture Buddy using thermal imaging and night vision goggles but he evaded capture. The 3-year-old beefalo escaped being corralled and would continue to narrowly escape authorities until his capture in April.

The 12-minute video explains how Benecchi would use his spare time to find Buddy and would spend upwards of six hours in a trailer to try to capture him. Benecchi came close to capturing Buddy on many occasions, but the beefalo proved to be elusive — he labeled him a “white whale.”

“I will never forget the look in his eyes. He was really afraid of me and that was completely heartbreaking,” Benecchi said in the video.

Benecchi also said in the video that he did not want Buddy to go to the slaughterhouse so he raised the necessary funds to send him to the Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary in Florida.

“The whole town became invested in Buddy’s well-being,” Benecchi said. “People just needed to be invested in something positive.”

When the winter months started setting in, Benecchi began to prioritize the search for Buddy so the animal could have proper nourishment while out in the cold. Each day, Buddy would consume a bale of hay, 20 gallons of water and 10 pounds of grain.

After eight months of being on the run, Buddy was captured and sent to Critter Creek.

At the end of the video, Benecchi travels down to the sanctuary to visit Buddy and ensure he was being properly taken care of.

“He’s a marshmallow,” Benechhi added.

Buddy remains at Critter Creek with his two “girlfriends,” Eleanor and Autumn.

Plymouth Police Department / Contributed photo Plymouth Police Capt. Ed Benecchi poses with Buddy the Beefalo after his capture.