A pet donkey that escaped its owner in California five years ago has been found living its “best life” with a herd of wild elk.
Terrie and Dave Drewry of Auburn are convinced the animal photographed by a hiker in early June is their pet “Diesel.”
The couple said they were relieved the animal was safe and decided to let it roam free as a “wild donkey” with its new family.
Diesel got scared and took off while on a hiking trip with Drewry near Clear Lake, California, in 2019.
Weeks of volunteer work proved fruitless and months later trail camera images were the last time he was seen.
“We eventually gave up,” Mrs Drewry told the BBC’s news partner CBS. “There’s no trace of him at all.”
Hiker Max Fennell spotted the herd of donkeys earlier this month and posted his video on social media, describing the animals as “happy and healthy.”
“It was amazing. Oh my gosh. We finally met him. We finally know he’s great. He’s living the best life. He’s happy. He’s healthy, just fortunate,” Mrs Drewery said. .
The elk herd is located a few miles from where Diesel first went missing and is in an area free of wild burros.
Mrs Drewry said: “They are two completely different creatures but they get along and learn to be a family.”
The Drewrys have adopted a new donkey since Diesel disappeared and have no plans to try to catch their missing pet.
“It would be almost impossible to catch him,” Mrs Drewry said. “He’s really a wild donkey now. He’s doing what he was raised to do.”
She said Diesel is about eight years old and donkeys can live up to 40 years.
