A mysterious pair of giant donkeys have been found masquerading as cows on a Highland farm.
A farmer in Ardgay, Sutherland, was left stunned after discovering the two “very large” stallion donkeys in with his cattle when he went to check on them one morning this month.
After asking around in the local community, he could not find anyone who knew where they had come from, so he called the SSPCA, who in turn contacted the Donkey Sanctuary.
Two SSPCA officers, and a world horse welfare officer and a donkey welfare adviser from the sanctuary, met the unidentified farmer, who had loaded the two stallions onto his own trailer at a livestock market and transferred the pair over to their custody.
The donkeys have now been named “Andy” and “Ross” after the SSPCA officers who helped rescue them.
Senior Inspector Andy Brown said: “We weren’t able to establish how the donkeys got there but we think it’s possible they had been abandoned.
“Their feet weren’t in the best condition but otherwise they were okay.
“My colleague Inspector Aileen Ross and I arranged transportation to the Donkey Sanctuary and we are pleased to hear they have both settled in well.”
Mr Brown revealed that it was the third time that an animal he had worked with had been named after him.
“It’s a nice touch that the donkeys been called Andy and Ross, although it’s not a first for me as over the years I’ve had a sheep and a Shetland pony named after me,” he said.
The Donkey Sanctuary said the stallions were not wild, having shown clear signs of having had some form of interaction.
A spokeswoman said: “Once in our care the donkeys travelled very well to a holding base where they were assessed.
“Both donkeys had overgrown hooves and will need remedial farriery work.
“They both also had numerous bite marks which is probably from each other as stallions have a tendency to fight. Now in the care of the sanctuary they will be castrated.”