The last buffalo still roaming Hot Springs was captured Sunday evening and found dead Monday morning, officials say.
Six buffalo escaped the Shady Grove Road area in Hot Springs on April 16 and since then, owner Tony Bettis and authorities have searched for and recaptured the animals.
Bettis had set up a corral stocked with food to attract the last buffalo since she had been sighted several times in the Whispering Hills area, and found her there yesterday, City of Hot Springs spokesman Terry Payne said in an email.
When Bettis went to check on the female buffalo Monday morning, he found her deceased, Payne said. It's unclear how the buffalo died.
Three of the original six buffalo remain alive, Payne said. The animal hit by a car on the day of its escape was returned to Bettis' farm and later died. Another one of the animals was found dead in a ravine by its owner last week.
Payne said Bettis plans to move the buffalo to a new home in Hot Spring county.