Flying donkey set to land in the good life

Anapka made headlines after a travel company sent her on a parasailing flight as part of a public relations stunt. (Mikhail Metzel/ Associated Press)

Associated Press / August 5, 2010

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MOSCOW — The parasailing donkey will never fly again and can look ahead to a life of luxury.

Anapka the donkey arrived in Moscow yesterday after her brays of terror over a southern Russian beach last month prompted a British newspaper to step in and buy her.

A recreation company had sent Anapka up into the sky for about 30 minutes for a promotional stunt, and the YouTube video of her trip made headlines around the world. Upset readers of the Sun had urged the newspaper to rescue her.

“Our readers were deeply moved,’’ Sun correspondent Garry O’Shea said. “We were contacted by thousands of readers. They wanted us to ensure the well-being of this animal.’’

Anapka traveled from her small town by the Azov Sea to the Kremlin riding school outside Moscow, where her arrival was filmed by news cameras. The donkey was quickly surrounded by reporters and onlookers eager to stroke her.

The riding school’s chief veterinarian, Arina Stepanova, said the 17-year-old donkey was tired after her journey but showed no signs of serious illness.

Her new owners, meanwhile, are reviewing different options for a new home.

Harry Redknapp, coach of England’s Tottenham Hotspur football club, has volunteered to shelter the donkey in an animal sanctuary he is opening in Hampshire, O’Shea said.

The Sun also has received numerous offers to adopt Anapka, he said.