U.S. Marines emerged unscathed after their vehicle collided with a water buffalo on Arnhem Highway southeast of Darwin, Australia, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
MOUNT BUNDEY TRAINING AREA, Australia — A wandering water buffalo came off second best in an encounter with U.S. Marines on an Australian highway this week.
Two members of Marine Rotational Force — Darwin and a Stars and Stripes reporter were driving on Arnhem Highway southeast of the northern Australian port city when the beast lumbered into the road around 7 p.m. Wednesday.
A Marine’s efforts to brake lessened the impact, but the collision catapulted the buffalo to its doom and extensively damaged the front of the Marines’ utility truck. All inside emerged unscathed, though the vehicle was a smoldering wreck.
Two thousand Marines are in the Northern Territory for an annual six-month training rotation. This month, they’ve been joined by 4,400 airmen from the United States and 21 other nations participating in the biennial Pitch Black airpower drills.
Local emergency personnel attending to Wednesday’s wreck advised that water buffalos escape from local ranches through broken fences and stray onto the highway near Mount Bundey, a military training area about 80 miles southeast of Darwin.
Feral buffalo can weigh more than 2,600 pounds and are a pest in the Northern Territory, according to the local government’s official website.
The territory’s official tourism website informs visitors that many roads in the region are not fenced.
“This means you may encounter animals on the road including kangaroos, cattle, horses, camels and birds,” the website states. “Animals are most active at sunrise, sunset or at night.”
Drivers shouldn’t swerve to avoid animals since this may cause a crash, according to the territory.
“Slow down and sound your horn,” the website states. “If you drive off the side of the road, don’t over-correct or brake heavily. Return to the road at a safe speed and when the road is clear of other traffic.”
