Poznan's amorous donkeys reunited after protest

Napoleon the donkey (right) is clearly delighted to have his Antonina (left) back in the pen, Thursday: photo - PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

“It was never our intention that animals should feel uncomfortable because of their natural behaviour,” a statement by Poznan Zoo said, Thursday, after the two donkeys, Napoleon and Antonina – together in one pen for 10 years – were separated this week.

Local politician for the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party Lydia Dudziak led the protests to get the two lovemaking donkeys separated after she said parents had complained that their passionate behaviour was upsetting children.

But after an online petition turned up 7,000 names in a counter-protest, the donkeys were re-united in their pen on Thursday morning.

Together again: Napoleon and Antonina with young Tadeusz: photo - PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Poznan Zoo said the unfortunate separation of the two donkeys with a long-standing and intimate relationship came about from trying to find a “balance between respecting animal welfare and the peace and satisfaction of our visitors, including the most frequent guests to our zoo – kids."

Over the ten years they have been together, Napoleon and Antonina have produced six offspring. (pg)

source: gazeta wyborcza/PAP