‘It’s really, really unusual’: tender bond between male donkey and bull baffles scientists
Patroclo and Achille’s interspecies affair sheds new light on social and sexual relations between animals, scientists say In ancient myth, Achilles and Patroclus were two Greek heroes of the Trojan war whose intense bond was believed by some to have turned into a sexual relationship. In modern science, they are a bull, Achille, and a donkey, Patroclo, whose tender interspecies affair has helped…
An unusual bond between a male donkey and a bull has baffled scientists, shedding new light on social and sexual interactions between animals. In ancient Greek mythology, Achilles and Patroclus were two heroes whose intense relationship was believed to be sexual. In a modern study, researchers discovered a similar bond between Achille, a bull, and Patroclo, a donkey.
The two males, belonging to different owners, were spotted engaging in behaviors such as licking, rubbing, and mounting each other. While rare, this type of interspecies relationship has been observed in other animals, including snow monkeys and fur seals. Dr. Elisabetta Palagi of the University of Pisa, who co-authored the study, described the bond as "really, really unusual" and the first of its kind reported in literature.
The researchers studied the two animals over four days and found that mounting behavior was not solely attributed to sexual arousal, but also played a role in prolonging social interaction. Palagi added that the relationship brought benefits, both in terms of attention and potential support. While the exact nature of the bond remains unclear, the study highlights the importance of exploring diverse behaviors in the animal kingdom.
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