Donkey nannies - probably a term you've never heard before.
Well, they exist and we're so glad they do because they're adorable.
Donkey nannies are donkeys that help look after newborn lambs, llamas and alpacas.
They're mostly found in Italy where they bring the babies from high pastures to the plains.
Today I learnt about donkey nannies, which are donkeys that are used to transport newborn lambs from high pastures to the plains when the lambs can't make that trip themselves.
They're taken out after the day's journey for food and nuzzling with their mothers. pic.twitter.com/GwIWxiaQOW
— New James+ (@iyagovos) November 5, 2018
The newborns are too young to make the journey on their own so that's where the donkey nannies step in, wearing a special coat with pockets for the little ones to fit into.
The baby lambs, llamas and alpacas take rest stops so they can get out to see their mothers and feed.
Farmers use donkeys as nannies for a number of reasons - they're very patient animals but they're also territorial, meaning they protect the newborns from predators.
