Every now and then, if one spends really any amount of time on the internet, then one might happen to lay eyes upon an impossibly cute animal that one had never previously heard of before but immediately falls in love with. The Poitou donkey, from France, is just such a creature! One of the largest breeds of donkey in the world, these big and fluffy animals have very sweet faces and are characterised by their long, shaggy hair. Thought to have once been status symbols among French nobility and originally bred to be used in agricultural settings, they can now largely be found in petting zoos and on estates, charming all those who pass by or who decide to come to visit them especially.
The increasing use of machinery in the 20th century saw the need for once essential work animals such as the Poitou donkey drop rather dramatically so that, by 1977, it is thought that just 44 of the breed remained throughout the entire globe. Subsequent conservation efforts brought this number up to 450 purebred examples by 2005 and one place where you can now see these adorable animals is the Asinerie du Baudet du Poitou in Dampierre-sur-Boutonne. Just book a vacation rental in Aquitaine and while you’re exploring this varied and beautiful landscape, drop by to meet some of the adorable Poitou donkeys!
