A cow stranded beneath the Barikádový vodopád waterfall, Slovak Paradise, eastern Slovakia. (source: Slovak Paradise National Park Administration)
An unusual sight greeted visitors to Slovak Paradise, a national park renowned for its breathtaking gorges, caves, and waterfalls, last weekend: a cow stranded beneath the Barikádový vodopád waterfall.
The unexpected visitor was discovered in the challenging Veľký Kyseľ gorge, a 1.4-kilometre-long route filled with ladders and waterfalls that typically requires a ferrata set for hikers to navigate.
How the cow reached this remote and rugged spot remains a mystery. Her herd was grazing in fields near the eastern Slovak village of Smižany, some seven kilometres away.
The Slovak Paradise National Park Administration suggested that the cow’s presence in such an inaccessible area is highly unusual.
“We believe that the cow could not have made it there on her own. It’s possible that irresponsible tourists lured her away from the herd and inadvertently led her to the gorge,” the administration speculated.
Despite efforts by conservationists and local farmers, they were unable to rescue the cow.
“We couldn’t safely extricate her; the terrain was too perilous for her to make the journey back without serious injury. Unfortunately, we had to put her down on the spot,” explained Rudolf Uhliar, director of the Smižany farm.
A stranded cow in Slovak Paradise. (source: Slovak Paradise National Park Administration)
Authorities urge visitors to refrain from feeding livestock or interfering with animals in the park’s meadows, to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.
