Beast’s Belly Brings Back Bygone Baubles

CHANDIGARH, India — A farmer whose water buffalo swallowed his wife’s gold jewelry 12 years ago patiently waited for the animal to die a natural death, then recovered the baubles from the beast’s belly, it was reported Wednesday.

When the unidentified farmer bought the animal in Kaithal, 50 miles south of Chandigarh, his wife fed it a traditional mixture of sugary flour from a basin that she had forgotten also contained her jewelry, the Chandigarh Tribune reported. The buffalo swallowed the woman’s necklace, earrings and bangles worth about $2,000. Friends suggested that the farmer kill the animal to recover the jewelry, but he decided to wait until it died a natural death, which occurred Sunday.