After escaping to the Graubünden countryside ten days ago, the wily bovine was finally recaptured on Monday evening and will now be sent back to its native farm in Zurich rather than spending the summer on an alpine pasture, police have said.

Ilana was one of two Highland cows being unloaded from a van in Pontresina, in the canton of Graubünden, on June 18th when they both gave the farmer the slip.

Police spent several hours chasing the horned beasts and one of them was captured the same day.

But the other, Ilana, escaped and headed off into the countryside, not to be seen again for over a week.

On Sunday the cow was finally spotted in the Montebello area, but again gave its would-be captors the runaround.

On Monday evening it was sighted a second time, and after an operation lasting several hours, a gamekeeper was able to stun and sedate the animal.

According to Graubünden police, the animal was due to spend the summer on an alpine pasture in the Engadin region, but will now be transported back to its home farm in Zurich instead.

“The cow wasn’t as harmless as its funny appearance made it seem, particularly with its long, pointed horns,” a police spokesperson told news agencies.

It is usual around this time of year for Swiss farmers to take their cattle up to the alpine pastures for the summer months, where cheese is made on the pasture.

The cows return down to the valley farms in the autumn, an event often celebrated in colourful village festivals.