NEW: URI’s Peckham Farm Welcomes “Surprise” Baby Donkey
Friday, April 24, 2015
GoLocalProv News Team
The University of Rhode Island's Peckham Farm was surprised at the birth of a baby guard donkey on Sunday.
“When I walked over to Jenny, I noticed that her attention was focused on something behind me. I turned and saw the baby trying to take her first few steps. She was still wet from the birthing process, so she must have been born just minutes before I arrived," said Kathryn Voelkner, an animal science major from Clarks Summit, Pa.
According to farm manager Nick Miniter, no one knew that Jenny was pregnant, since URI's only other donkey, Rosie, is also female.
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“Over the winter we started to mention that she was getting kind of chunky, but we thought it was just that the extra food they get to keep warm in winter was sticking to her in unflattering ways,” said Sydney Day, a senior animal science major from East Greenwich.
URI acquired Jenny last May and Donkey gestation lasts about one year.
URI uses donkeys as guard animals to protect its sheep and goats from attacks by coyotes or feral dogs.
The first guard donkey at URI, Bonnie, arrived in late 2003.
Peckham Farm is located across Route 138 from the URI athletic facilities and consists of sheep, cows, pigs and goats that are used as part of the University's animal science and pre-veterinary classes.
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