In an unusual and heartwarming story from Cambodia, a grieving widow has found solace in an extraordinary bond with a cow, reminiscent of her late husband.
Khim Hang, 76, was deeply touched by the similarities between the cow and her deceased spouse, Tol Khut, who passed away a year prior.
Ms. Hang’s connection with the cow began when the animal affectionately licked her hair and neck and gave her a kiss. The cow even followed her upstairs, mirroring the actions of her late husband. Convinced that this was a reincarnation of her beloved spouse, Ms. Hang decided to marry the cow.
Speaking to Reuters, she shared her belief, saying, “I believe that the calf is my husband because whatever he does… is in exactly the same way as my husband did when he was alive.”
Shortly after their unusual connection was established, neighbors reported that Ms. Hang and the cow had married.
Bizarre footage even captured the woman leading the cow into her one-storied house, where she bathed and prepared it for bedtime, using pillows that once belonged to her late husband.
Ms. Hang’s son, deeply moved by his mother’s conviction, mentioned that he could “sense his father’s spirit within the animal” and ensured that it never strayed far from their home.
In an extraordinary display of affection, Ms. Hang has instructed her children not to sell or mistreat the cow after her passing.
Instead, she wants them to care for their “father” until the cow’s natural end, treating it with the respect they would afford a human, and holding a traditional funeral.
While Ms. Hang’s story is unusual, she is not the first person to form a unique bond with an animal. In 2010, a teenager from Indonesia was forced to marry a cow after being found fornicating with the animal.
In a more recent example, a divorced woman from London, Amanda Rodgers, married her pet dog Sheba in a special ceremony in Split, Croatia in 2021, attended by 200 well-wishers.
Her love and bond with her loyal companion were evident, and she said, “Sheba had been in my life for years, making me laugh and comforting me when I was feeling low. I couldn’t think of anything more I’d need from a life partner. I got down on one knee and proposed. I could tell by her tail wagging that she said, ‘yes’.”
