Pyrenean Donkeys

These donkeys used to be seen everywhere in the countryside, carrying out small, everyday tasks. Now they have practically disappeared, except in the mountains, where they continue to serve a useful purpose.

Unlike other domestic animals, these donkeys have not undergone selective breeding with a view to standardisation - that is to say to make all members of the breed look similar. The only places where there was selective breeding were in areas of mule production (the Poitou and the Pyrenees regions).

We are now witnessing a marked renewal of interest in these animals, with several types being developed. At the end of a century overloaded with technology, donkeys seem to fulfill a symbolic need for simplicity and a close relationship with nature.