OXFORD, Iowa — The Iowa Farm Sanctuary has released more information about how Phill the water buffalo likely died.

Late last week Phill was rushed to the Iowa State University Large Animal Hospital after he became lethargic, had a loss of appetite, and was unable to stand steady on his feet. On Valentine’s Day the sanctuary announced that Phill, who captured the hearts of Iowans with his escape in August, had died.

On Wednesday the sanctuary detailed in a Facebook Live what they’ve learned so far about how Phill died. According to the sanctuary, it’s believed that Phill died due to complications with the lead bullet he had been shot with when Pleasant Hill police tried to capture him after his escape from a farm.

Following his recapture, Phill was taken to the Iowa Farm Sanctuary, and was receiving regular treatment. His medical team believed the lead bullet he was shot with was likely free floating in his abdomen, and he received consistent blood testing to ensure he didn’t develop lead poisoning.

During a necropsy, the medical team noticed that Phill had no body fat and had no fat around his heart, which is abnormal, the sanctuary said. Water buffalo have four chambers in their stomach — the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. Phill’s rumen was found to have compacted food and was moving slower than normal. They also found that the lead bullet wasn’t free floating, and had actually entered his rumen and moved to his reticulum. It’s believed that the lead bullet was being broken down by the stomach acid.

It was also discovered that Phill had developed lesions in his rumen and had sepsis.

The sanctuary said it hopes to have the full results of Phill’s necropsy showing his exact cause of death within the next couple weeks.

Iowa News: