In Jeréz a “star” has been born in the form of a female “Pío” donkey called Estrella. With her birth the perpetuation of this unique and rare species is hopefully ensured.

In Spain there are only about 100 Pío donkeys, the majority in Jeréz. There are 15 on the estate of the Caballero family, owners of the famous sherry winery of the same name.

Elma Caballero is trying to get the Pío donkey recognised as a breed and in this endeavour she has sought the help of the Veterenary Faculty at the University of Córdoba. As well as documented evidence, in order to receive recognition, a minimum number of these animals most exist, hence the efforts to get these donkeys to reproduce.

They are donkeys whose hides resemble those of the horses ridden by American Indians. Their special pigmentation is unusual, and as a phenomenon it has certain similarities with that of albinos.
The last few donkeys born in Jeréz were all male which posed a threat to the perpetuation of the species. Although there were 5 males and 9 females, these females were aging and there was a certain fear that without new females, the future of the herd could not be guaranteed.

Fortunately, on the 8 November, after 12 months gestation, a female donkey called Estrella entered this world. Since her birth, Estrella, the youngest member of the family, has had to get used to fame. Many horse and donkey lovers, press and media and the just curious have wanted to catch a glimpse of this beautiful and special creature.

The association between the Caballero family and the pío donkey goes back a long way. The great grandfather of Elma, Pedro Nolasco González, the Marquis of Torresoto was one of the three businessmen who around the year 1900 bought el Coto de Doñana, which is today a Nature Reserve – one of the most important in Europe. Its previous owner, the Duke of Tarifa owned camels, ostritches and Pío donkeys.

When he heard of the new owner’s love of horses (Caballero was responsible for importing the sport of polo from Britain and introducing it into Spain), he included the donkeys in the price. Since then the family has bred these unusual animals which have become part of the city’s recent history, serving Jeréz in various ways, above all in the past when donkies were essential for working the fields and vineyards.

According to Juan Aparicio of “Amiburro”, the Association of Friends of the Donkey, Pío donkeys are not very common with only little more than a hundred in Spain, pointing out that “they also can be found in France, England and USA”.

There are many theories regarding the origin of this species of donkey. The most widely accepted one suggests that they originated in Turkey and spread from there throughout Europe.

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