A Donkey is a Man’s Friend Museum

The first museum dedicated to the most stubborn animals – donkeys – opened in the Crimean village of Zalesnoye, Bakhchisaray district. This event took place on a donkey farm called “Miracle Donkey” owned by brothers Ivan and Nikolai Pomogalov. The opening day of the museum was timed to the anniversary of the creation of the farm itself. “The donkey has served humanity for over two thousand years but is now undeservedly being ignored; therefore we decided to raise its status,” said Nikolai Pomgalov.

The Pomogalov family constantly surprises visitors to the farm with their measured love for donkeys. The museum exhibition includes about 100 exhibits. Various donkey paraphernalia are presented as exhibits, including a harness, carts, and souvenirs, as well as various craft items that have been given to the farm by visiting guests over the six years of its operation. There is information about how the objects were used in antiquity and what their purpose is in modern times near the exhibits. Co-owner of the farm, Nikolai Pomogalov, emphasized that when creating the museum, he wanted to reflect the role that donkeys played during the Crimean War and World War II. Indeed, in the mountains, the wounded were mainly transported by donkeys, accustomed to the mountain trails.

It is known that during the Crimean War, donkeys were actively involved with utility carts: they brought in cannonballs, small guns, and food. Donkeys were also used in the Crimean partisan movement during the Great Patriotic War. The Miracle Donkey farm owners hope that the museum will continue to be replenished with exhibits.

The purpose of creating such a museum, according to the Pomogalov brothers, is to enable people to learn more about donkeys and to fall in love with these animals, as they have.

On the opening day of the museum, everyone – both adults and children – could ride the donkeys for free. Many who came to the farm and saw these beautiful animals for the first time instantly forgot about their chic cars and sat on the donkeys’ backs.