Viral Sacrificial Cow Escapes onto Ring Road in Gamping, Sleman

A sacrificial cow escaped while being prepared for slaughter in Ngawen, Gamping Subdistrict. The animal ran along North Ring Road before being apprehended by locals. The incident went viral after being posted on Instagram account @merapi_uncover, which shared footage of the cow running along the road before being guided back into the village.

“It happened around 10 o’clock this morning,” said local resident Novri when contacted by reporters on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

He explained the cow was intended for sacrifice at Masjid Al Falaah in Ngawen but suddenly struggled during transportation. “According to friends, the cow may have been stressed due to the presence of children nearby, leading to it breaking free,” he said.

Initially, the cow ran towards residents’ homes before entering the Ring Road area. It took around 20 minutes to guide it back into the village. “The cow fled onto the Ring Road and took 15 to 25 minutes to be guided back,” he added.

After returning to the village, the cow was successfully captured and subsequently slaughtered. “Everyone is safe with no injuries,” he concluded.