Donkey Sanctuary’s oldest donkey turns 50

PUBLISHED: 15:46 15 January 2015 | UPDATED: 15:46 15 January 2015

Jazzmine Stacey

Tessa celebrates 50th Birthday

Archant

Tessa celebrates 50th Birthday

For her birthday celebrations she received a host of birthday cards and a special carrot and donkey feed cake from her groomers.

Tessa arrived at the Donkey Sanctuary in 1965, when Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, the Beatles’ 65 album went to number 1 and the best ranked film was The Sound of Music.

50 YEAR OLD DONKEY, TESSA

Tessa is one of 6,200 rescued and rehomed currently in care of The Donkey Sanctuary in the UK and Europe.

The average UK donkey life expectancy is 27 years of age, so she has outlived many of her peers.

50 YEAR OLD DONKEY, TESSA

Annie Brown The Donkey Sanctuary’s General Farm Manager said: “It’s quite unusual for a donkey to reach 50. The secret of long life is individual care and management.”

With Tessa’s zest for life, a healthy appetite and a love of being groomed, it’s no surprise she is still going strong.

50 YEAR OLD DONKEY, TESSA

Sue Force on of her grooms said: “We all adore Tessa. She’s such a gentle donkey and a pleasure to have around. She just loves being sociable and loves attention and we think that’s what keeps her young. We hope she has many more happy years with us.”