Cleopatra, a talented donkey in South Africa has made headlines today for responding to phrases and pounding her hoof to answer math problems. When approached for a comment, Lawrenceville Leonard said nothing, but did not appear to be impressed.
The Times has this story...Donkey’s tricks prove she’s a smart ass
by Taschica Pillay, Published:Jun 22, 2008
Cleopatra is one clever girl.
The donkey, at Dayspring Farmyard in Zululand, is wowing visitors with her ability to do arithmetic, shake hooves, nod and play dead — skills she was taught by Sally Dilton-Hill, a retired teacher from Zimbabwe.
This week, Cleo proved her counting prowess when she correctly beat her hoof on the ground 11 times when asked “What is six plus three plus two?”
Her owners, former Zimbabweans Dave and Les Ervine, say Cleo leaves visitors speechless when she is able to count to 12 and answer simple arithmetic questions with her hoof.
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Also out of South Africa this week is a sad story with a happy ending. Coffee, a two year old donkey was rescued earlier this month by the SPCA from a sewage soak pit, where he had been for trapped for 40 hours. After weeks of treatment, medication and love, Coffee is now doing better. Lawrenceville Leonard did not comment, but seemed to snort happily when he was told the good news.
IOL has this story...Mission: donkey rescue
By Rivonia Naidu, June 20 2008 at 01:43PM
He's been affectionately named Coffee because of the area he was rescued from. He has big brown eyes that could make anybody fall in love with him. His favourite food is brown bread, and he's a donkey that has captured the hearts of many pet lovers.
"And to think he could have died if someone hadn't called us to rescue him," said Vicky Power from the Kloof and Highway Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Speaking about Coffee's miraculous rescue and recovery process, Power said staff and volunteers from the SPCA were "thankful" to have been called out to the coffee farm area of Mariannhill on June 3 to help save the two-year-old donkey's life.
She said when they arrived on the scene, they were "saddened" to find Coffee stuck in a "very small soak pit", a hole where sewage slowly seeps into the ground through holes on the sides and bottom.
Power said according to residents Coffee had been trapped in the soak pit for about 40 hours before he was rescued.
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