Mangaluru: Pandu, a celebrated racing buffalo that won 201 medals during his career in kambala events across coastal Karnataka, died of age-related ailments on Monday. He was 26.Owned by kambala patron Nandalike Srikanth Bhat, Pandu was known for his distinctive running style on the track. He had been with Bhat for nearly 14 years.“We bought him from someone in the kambala community. Initially, another person raced him in the junior category. Later, when I took over and entered him in the senior category, he won several medals for us,” Bhat said.Pandu won 201 medals, including first- and second-place finishes, during his racing career.“He last participated in a race four years ago. Due to age-related health problems, a veterinarian advised us against allowing him to race, warning that he could suffer a cardiac arrest while running. We stopped racing him when he turned 22 and took care of him thereafter,” Bhat said.“Pandu was 26 years old, while the average lifespan of a buffalo is around 25 years. We feel he lived for a year longer than usual. He developed pain in one leg, and the veterinarian said the fluid in the leg joint had dried up. We provided him with the best possible medical treatment, but could not save him,” Bhat said.Traditional rituals were performed during Pandu’s funeral. Kambala enthusiasts, well-wishers, and social and political leaders offered their condolences.Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta said he was deeply saddened by the death of Tulunadu’s celebrated kambala buffalo.“Having competed on kambala tracks and achieved unparalleled feats, winning more than 200 medals and leaving a unique mark in the history of the sport, Pandu will forever remain an unforgettable memory in the hearts of kambala lovers in Tulunadu,” the MP said.
