I came across this recent local news about a buffalo running amok and fleeing the slaughterhouse, presumably after detecting the stench of death. My heart goes out to this lovable creature. 

I wonder what generally Thai farmers do to these gentle beasts of burden after they grow too old to work the farm. Sell to slaughterhouses? Let them graze the field for the rest of their lives? Or is there some kind of places where kind human souls set up for these creatures to retire in?

Please enlighten me on this.

Are you joking? How long have you been here? In five years I only ever once saw a buffalo being worked and I live in a poor rural area. They are raised for beef, too tough for me to eat but easier to look after than cows, which is what I have.