Perry, beloved donkey, dies at 30

Iconic donkey brought joy to park visitors, and inspired Donkey character in ‘Shrek’.

January 8, 2024 – Perry, a beloved miniature donkey who has been a fixture of Bol Park for nearly three decades and who famously served as the model for the Donkey character in “Shrek,” was euthanized recently after battling a painful hoof disease. He was 30.

Perry has been at the park since 1997 and had spent much of his life in the company of Miner Forty Niner, who died in 2016. Prior to his passing on Thursday night, he was one of three donkeys at the Bol Park pasture, along with April and Buddy.

Perry had been suffering from laminitis, a hoof disease that caused him excruciating pain. He also had a disorder on his left hind leg, which made it painful for him to use that leg. He often kept it lifted, which added extra weight to his right side.

Staff members who take care of the Bol Park donkeys tried numerous methods to ease his pain, including several months of acupuncture that was followed by laser light therapy and warm massage. But it became apparent earlier this week that his condition was not improving.

Perry’s death was peaceful, she said. He was kept in constant company, and more than a dozen handlers were with him when he passed, she said. After he was euthanized, he remained in the pasture for several hours so that April and Buddy could understand that their companion has passed.

Outside Palo Alto, he is best known for serving as an inspiration for Donkey, the character voiced by Eddie Murphy in “Shrek.” One of the animators for Shrek lived near Bol Park and his wife directed him to the donkey pasture because she knew he was working on a donkey character for the new movie. He then brought a team of animators to Bol Park to spend a few hours with Perry.