Unusual Pair: Researchers Ponder Sex Between Bull and Donkey
Homosexuality is not unusual in the animal kingdom. But now a team from Italy has discovered a cross-species relationship between the bull Achille and the donkey Patroclo.
Researchers from the University of Pisa have observed an unusual relationship between a bull named Achille and a male donkey named Patroclo in Ethiopia. Despite having the opportunity to choose partners of their own species and sex, they repeatedly interacted with each other, with 51 instances recorded over 14 days in March 2026.
The interactions were part of a selective and consistent social relationship, characterized by friendly behaviors such as licking, rubbing, and nudging. The study, published in Current Biology, suggests that this unusual sexual behavior may be a social trait that serves to maintain bonds and/or reduce tension. Further research is needed to understand its exact function.
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