Donkey 'Steals' New Calf As His Baby & Immediately Goes Into Dad Mode
It takes a village to raise a child — or maybe it just takes one very territorial donkey. The donk, named Angus, was dead set on "adopting" one of the baby cows on the ranch he lives on and wouldn't let anyone else near the poor calf. No matter how much his owner told him to back off.
Angus had one mission in the footage shared online: become the calf's new dad.
And he almost succeeded. In the footage shared online by ranch boss Laurel Ysebaert, it shows the donkey "stealing" the baby cow from his parents. At first the donkey was merely "inspecting" the new baby. But then he "promptly decided that this calf was now his baby," Ysebaert wrote in the caption.
Related: Donkey Mom and Dad Proudly Show Off Their New Baby to Human Mom
Once Angus made up his mind, it was hard to get him to relent. He wouldn't let any of the other animals on the ranch near the little one. And he wasn't about to give up until he grew tired of playing dad.
People in the comments section couldn't stop laughing. "Angus woke up and chose motherhood, valiant effort," wrote one person. "Great Pyrenees: 'How do I protect the ones I protecting from the ones I am protecting?'" someone else joked. "The Pyr is like I am not equipped to protect the livestock from the livestock," another person agreed. "That poor momma she’s just screaming for her baby back but Angus is *mother*," joked another commenter.
Donkeys Need a Companion
You may not be able to tell by stubborn Angus, but donkeys are very social creatures. In fact, having a pal is important to maintaining the physical, social, and mental health of these animals. Donkeys are very sensitive and when they bond with another creature, they bond for life.
This is why they say that donkeys need a companion. Specifically they need other donkeys to be their pals. They can bond with other animals, like mini ponies, goats, or even cats, but their best source of friendship will always be with another donkey. They love being with their own kind.
When two donkeys are bonded they'll graze in the grass together and usually can't be far apart. They can become distressed when they aren't near each other. And when one donkey passes, the other can become depressed. They might stop eating, resulting in a fatal disease called hyperlipaemia.
This is why it might be best to be very mindful when getting a donkey. You'll want to make sure to get them a buddy. After all, two donkeys are better than one.
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