Mother of Buffalo

Directed by: Luis Tapia

Stage:
- Post Production
Location:
- Hong Kong SAR China
Updated: April 3, 2026
Project Type:
- Feature
Project Style:
- Observational,
- Personal
Theme Subject:

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Logline

As unchecked development encroaches on their once-protected home, a unique herd of wild water buffalo in Hong Kong faces an uncertain future. One woman fights to secure it.

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Mother of Buffalo - Trailer

Synopsis

...

Mother of Buffalo is a documentary film following one woman’s daily, years-long struggle to protect a dwindling population of wild water buffalo on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island.

In 2008 a water buffalo limped into Jean Leung's garden with a badly broken leg--he'd been hit by a bus. She named him Ngau Ngau ("Cow Cow") and nursed him back to health herself. When he recovered she vowed to look after him forever, and not long after she began tending to all of the 100+ water buffalo scattered across Lantau. Every day for 18 years, she has looked after her beloved buffalo children. But time is running out and this may be the final generation. Jean’s lone mission is to ensure their future. She faces strong and growing headwinds: a government sterilization campaign and unchecked development of their once-protected habitat place the buffalo in a precarious situation. Yet the buffalo, and hope, remain. Jean has vowed to fight to the end.

It’s a story of perseverance, of the connection and conflict between humans and nature, and of a rarely-seen side of Hong Kong amidst transformative change.

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Stills

Team

Luis Tapia

Director

Team

Luis Tapia

Director

Luis Arturo Tapia is a director, cinematographer, and producer. Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, he was based in Shanghai/Hong Kong from 2002-2022. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas and is available worldwide. Luis has directed, produced, and/or shot commercial work for more than 100 global brands and broadcast networks. Some highlights include The Amazing Race: China Rush, BBC documentary series "28Up", Olympic Channel feature documentary "The Iron Hammer", documentary shorts for the NFL and NBA, national ads for Google, WNBA, Heineken, and directing a teaser for Netflix' upcoming "Squid Game: The Challenge." Luis also pursues his own film projects, including feature documentaries "Up From the Underground" and "Human Flesh Search Engine". His scripted dark comedy short film "This Will End Badly", was accepted to 12 festivals, and won Best Film at the 2019 B-Retina Festival in Barcelona. His independent web series ORO exceeded 1 million views. His latest documentary, "Mother of Buffalo", is currently prepping for a festival run. Luis earned a degree in East Asian Studies from Princeton University and speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese, all fluently.

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Albert Yu

Composer

Team

Albert Yu

Composer

Albert is a Canadian composer based in Shanghai.

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Hansdale Hsu

Sound Designer

Team

Hansdale Hsu

Sound Designer

Hansdale Hsu is a freelance sound designer, post-production mixer and (occasional) composer currently based in the NYC metro area. He works on short docs, audio branding campaigns and logos, film, branded content, web series, animation and podcasts. He is comfortable working with a range of clients, both corporate and non-profit, interacting with directors, producers, editors and composers to achieve the best possible sonic results for each project. Some of his clients include National Geographic, GEICO, The North Face, Hulu, Netflix, TED, Pineapple Street Media, Nike and The United Nations Capital Development Fund. His podcast work for National Geographic has garnered over a million downloads and his short documentary work has been screened at domestic and international film festivals. Hansdale holds a B.A. in Music from Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Music Technology from NYU. He is also a member of the Video Consortium.

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Yuan Guo

Title Designer

Team

Yuan Guo

Title Designer

I’m a designer based in LA. My focus is communication through visual language (both static and moving). I work in the cross-section of culture, history, technology and art. I believe in the complexity of humanity. It is in this complexity that design can flourish. I’m a constant learner, maker, and explorer. Always un-assuming, questioning, and exploring.

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Yanyu Chen

Producer

Team

Yanyu Chen

Producer

Yanyu is a seasoned producer with credits across film, television, commercial, and high-end corporate films.

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Background

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Doc screenplay project impact narrative director editing award. Impact award independent cinema producer award screenplay visual creative impact award award festival story cinema team.

Director director film producer screenplay team film narrative team story cinema cinema team. Production camera camera cinema cinema festival production independent producer doc producer festival independent production. Team doc screenplay team journey story doc editing festival.

Director impact creative cinema journey doc director screenplay. Independent journey creative doc journey doc creative production story producer.

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Participants

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Participant

Luis Tapia

Director

Luis Arturo Tapia is a director, cinematographer, and producer. Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, he was based in Shanghai/Hong Kong from 2002-2022. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas and is available worldwide. Luis has directed, produced, and/or shot commercial work for more than 100 global brands and broadcast networks. Some highlights include The Amazing Race: China Rush, BBC documentary series "28Up", Olympic Channel feature documentary "The Iron Hammer", documentary shorts for the NFL and NBA, national ads for Google, WNBA, Heineken, and directing a teaser for Netflix' upcoming "Squid Game: The Challenge." Luis also pursues his own film projects, including feature documentaries "Up From the Underground" and "Human Flesh Search Engine". His scripted dark comedy short film "This Will End Badly", was accepted to 12 festivals, and won Best Film at the 2019 B-Retina Festival in Barcelona. His independent web series ORO exceeded 1 million views. His latest documentary, "Mother of Buffalo", is currently prepping for a festival run. Luis earned a degree in East Asian Studies from Princeton University and speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese, all fluently.

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Participant

Jean Leung

Main Subject

For 18 years, Jean Leung has been the primary caretaker of over 100 wild water buffalo on Hong Kong's Lantau Island. Her journey began in 2008 when a wounded bull limped into her garden with a badly broken leg after being hit by a bus. She nursed him back to health, named him Ngau Ngau, and promised to look after him forever. That promise expanded to encompass the entire herd.

Jean knows every buffalo by name, personality, family lineage, and food preferences. She spends each day traversing the island's wetlands, beaches, forests, and mountain trails to feed, treat injuries, and monitor her herd. She has never taken a day off. To fund he work, she came out of retirement to work part-time as a real estate agent.

Jean founded the South Lantau Buffalo Society to advocate for the buffalo's protection. She faces strong opposition from government sterilization programs, encroaching development, and vocal critics who want the buffalo removed from the island.

She is a beloved and sometimes divisive figure in the South Lantau community, known for her humor, tenacity, and fierce devotion to her buffalo children.

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Participant

Amy

Subject

A miracle calf. Watch the film to learn her story.

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Participant

Ngau Ngau

Subject

In 2008, Ngau Ngau limped into Jean's garden with a badly broken right hind leg. He'd been hit by a bus. Jean promised to look after him forever, a promise she later extended to the entire 100+ count herd.

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Participant

Sam Ng

Subject

When the government sterilized Sam Ng at the age of one, it devastated her health and she was removed from the herd to convalesce on a farm. When she returned, her own mother no longer recognized her and she was ostracized from the herd. A gentle soul with a remarkably expressive face, she often approached the camera with a polite curiosity.

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Participant

Big Head Boy

Subject

Big Boy reigned as king of the Pui O wetland for many years. A gentle giant, he rarely needed to fight to defend his territory--his massive frame was enough to keep challengers at bay. But he's showing his age and the young males increasingly are threatening his kingdom. Jean fears the next king won't be so peaceful.

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Participant

Cunning Boy

Subject

Aptly named, Cunning Boy is a mischievous fellow. He's often lurking nearby when Ngau Ngau takes his meals, hoping to sneak a bit of extra hay.

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Style & Tone

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Editing cinema visual visual director project visual story award production festival narrative film. Impact festival camera screenplay festival award visual creative.

Narrative narrative cinema editing journey story team award team editing story visual. Award award narrative camera creative team team screenplay doc. Journey producer creative independent story camera narrative independent screenplay cinema editing doc project visual journey.

Award cinema creative independent film film editing project producer story. Camera camera independent narrative project story narrative award team production screenplay screenplay journey production editing.

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Budget

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Project camera story editing narrative film cinema production. Director journey creative award cinema cinema creative director narrative camera production screenplay award journey production.

Grants & Awards

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Rights

This section includes information about this project.

Doc production cinema project independent award visual production camera editing producer award. Team director project screenplay independent journey film journey editing film independent cinema award.

Our Ask

This section includes information about this project.

Director festival creative editing narrative independent director screenplay independent project story independent production camera story film. Impact director impact doc project camera creative award creative director screenplay camera team award.

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Mother of Buffalo

Logline

Clips

Stills

Team

Luis Tapia

Luis Tapia

Albert Yu

Albert Yu

Hansdale Hsu

Hansdale Hsu

Yuan Guo

Yuan Guo

Yanyu Chen

Yanyu Chen

Participants

Luis Tapia

Jean Leung

Amy

Ngau Ngau

Sam Ng

Big Head Boy

Cunning Boy

Budget

Grants & Awards

Rights

Our Ask