‘It’s really, really unusual’: tender bond between male donkey and bull baffles scientists
Scientists have documented a rare interspecies bond between a bull and a male donkey in Ethiopia. The behavior, involving mutual grooming and mounting, is considered highly unusual in animal science.
Why it matters
This observation provides new insights into social and sexual behaviors in non-human animals.
Bull and male donkey seen licking, nuzzling each other in rare same-sex interaction Animal behaviour ‘It’s really, really unusual’: tender bond between male donkey and bull baffles scientists Patroclo and Achille’s interspecies affair sheds new light on social and sexual relations between animals, scientists say
Prefer the Guardian on Google In ancient myth, Achilles and Patroclus were two Greek heroes of the Trojan war whose intense bond was believed by some to have turned into a sexual relationship.
In modern science, they are a bull, Achille, and a donkey, Patroclo, whose tender interspecies affair has helped to shed new light on social and sexual interactions between animals.
Researchers say the two males have been spotted licking and rubbing each other, with the bull sometimes mounting the donkey.
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