A donkey that escaped its owners 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, filmed by a hiker earlier in June, is their pet “Diesel.”
The couple say they are relieved the animal is safe – and have decided to let him roam free like a “wild donkey” with a new family.
Diesel got spooked and left while hiking with Mr. Drewry near Clear Lake, California in 2019.
Weeks of searches by volunteers proved fruitless, and a trail camera image a few months later was the last time he was seen.
“We kind of gave up in the end,” Ms Drewry told BBC news partner CBS. “There's just no signs of him.”
Then hiker Max Fennell spotted the herd earlier this month, described the donkey as “happy and healthy”, and posted his film on social media.
“It was amazing. It was like, oh my god. Finally we saw him. Finally we know he's good. He's living his best life. He's happy. He's healthy, and it was just a relief,” said Mrs Drewry.
The elk herd is located a few miles from where Diesel first went missing and in an area where wild donkeys are not found.
“Two completely different beings, but they learn to get along and be each other's family,” Mrs. Drewry said.
The Drewrys have adopted new donkeys since Diesel's disappearance and have no intention of capturing their missing pet.
“Catching him would be next to impossible,” Mrs Drewry said. 'He's a real wild ass now. He does what he was trained to do.'
She said Diesel is about eight years old and donkeys can live up to 40 years.
