Italian scientists document reciprocal sexual behavior between a donkey and a bull

Italian researchers from the University of Pisa observed a donkey and a bull engaging in repeated sexual behavior in Ethiopia.

Elisabetta Palagi and her team traveled to the highlands of Debre Libanos to study geladas, a species of monkey native to the region. During their fieldwork, the researchers observed a donkey named Patroclo and a bull named Achille interacting in a communal pasture. The team recorded a series of encounters involving nuzzling, mounting, and affectionate contact between the two animals.

The researchers monitored the pair for two weeks and documented 51 instances of the bull mounting the donkey. The team noted that the donkey did not resist and often presented its hindquarters to the bull. Beyond the physical acts, the animals engaged in affiliative behaviors such as licking and rubbing. These observations suggest the two animals maintained a social bond and spent more time together than apart.

The study indicates that this behavior was not a result of coercion or a lack of mates, as the animals were surrounded by their own species. The researchers argue that the interaction shows signs of reciprocity and friendship. While local shepherds were not surprised by the behavior, the scientists noted that such interspecies social bonds are rarely documented in academic literature.