A man in China has found himself repeatedly evicted from rented apartments—not because of loud parties or missed rent—but because of his highly unusual roommate: a buffalo calf.
Chen, a 30-year-old former combat sports athlete from Foshan, Guangdong province, made headlines after choosing to raise a four-month-old black buffalo calf named Bull Demon King inside his rented apartment. The decision, while heartwarming to some, has caused him serious housing trouble. He’s already been evicted twice this year because of it.
Originally planning to get a dog, Chen said he felt drawn to the buffalo instead. He believes the animal helps him stay motivated and focused on his goals, while also reminding him not to become a “niuma”—a Chinese term for someone who toils endlessly without reward.
Despite his limited income of around 6,000 yuan (approximately $820) a month from working part-time as an equestrian and archery coach, Chen spends more than half his earnings on food and care for the buffalo and his dog, Little Bear. He even dresses the calf warmly in winter, bathes it in his bathroom, disinfects the home daily, and walks it on warm days.
While Bull Demon King is described as calm and only makes soft mooing sounds when hungry, landlords haven’t exactly been thrilled about having a buffalo living in their property. His first eviction came after the landlord found out, and the second shortly after. Chen now rents a cheaper place for about 400 yuan ($55) a month, and one landlord allowed him to stay after videos of him and the calf went viral.
Online reactions have been mixed. Some people admire Chen’s devotion to animals, while others accuse him of using the buffalo for social media fame. He denies this, saying, “No one would risk eviction twice if they didn’t genuinely love their pet.”
His story has touched millions online and earned him over 23,000 followers, with some videos racking up more than 8 million views. Despite the criticism and repeated housing struggles, Chen has no plans to part ways with Bull Demon King. “If you love it, you will tolerate everything about it,” he said.
Recently, he returned to his rural hometown for the Ching Ming Festival and is building a wooden house there—hoping one day to live peacefully with his beloved buffalo and dog in the countryside.
