Back to photostream

Sugar Lumps??

They are curious creatures, the Ile de Ré donkeys. Some look positively rastafarian, others like the donkeys you might see on a British beach. In fact the longer haired animals are a rather rare species, the Baudet du Poitou.

 

Once a common site in the Poitou Charentes countryside these lovely animals were in danger of becoming extinct as machines took over. Today St Martin de Ré is home to a herd of them. You can usually find them hanging around the town’s ancient walls.

 

The donkeys are turned out in their Sunday best every weekend in St Martin. These donkeys are called the ânes en culotte. Their pyjamas may look daft but they are genuine. The proper working donkeys used to wear them as protection for their legs from all the mosquitoes and other insects on the salt marshes.

3,662 views
82 faves
25 comments
Uploaded on September 20, 2018
Taken on September 20, 2018