A pet donkey disappeared in California five years ago. He’s been spotted living with a herd of wild elk

Scottie Andrew, CNN

(CNN) — When Diesel nan donkey ran distant connected a hike adjacent his location extracurricular Sacramento, California, 5 years ago, his owners assumed nan worst.

“He’s not aggressive, he’s a lover,” Terrie Drewry told CNN connection KOVR successful 2019, days aft Diesel’s awesome escape. “But correct now, he’s scared.”

Years passed without a motion of life from Diesel — until earlier this year, erstwhile a huntsman spotted and filmed a herd of astatine slightest a twelve elk successful nan bluish California wilderness. Among them, strangely, was a chaotic burro.

Drewry is affirmative that nan donkey successful nan hunter’s video is her Diesel.

“Finally we saw him,” Drewry told KOVR this period aft nan Instagram video began making headlines. “Finally, we cognize he’s good. He’s surviving his champion life. He’s happy. He’s healthy, and it was conscionable a relief.”

The Drewry family adopted Diesel from nan Bureau of Land Management, and he lived connected their workplace successful bid for nan first fewer years of his life alongside chickens, a llama and a miniature donkey.

But connected a fateful hike successful April 2019, Diesel noticed thing that spooked him and took disconnected running, dragging Drewry’s hubby Dave done nan bushes down him, she told KOVR astatine nan time. For weeks they searched for Diesel successful nan Cache Creek Wilderness, a rugged area northwest of Sacramento made up of astir 30,000 acres. They thought they spotted him connected a way camera and erstwhile recovered immoderate tracks that whitethorn person matched his hooves, but they ne'er recovered him.

Enter Max Fennell, a master triathlete who occasionally hunts successful chaotic California pinch a front and arrow. On a hunting travel successful March, Fennell stumbled upon nan elk herd — and was stunned to spot a donkey among them.

In a video changeable by Fennell, which Drewry said was taken specified miles from wherever Diesel bolted successful 2019, nan herd is seen moving successful unison. When Fennell spots them, they extremity to look astatine him.

The animals don’t move again until nan donkey apparently gives nan all-clear: After sizing up a disbelieving Fennell, nan burro turns its caput and trots off. The elk quickly follow.

“Probably 1 of my wildest hunting trips to date,” Fennell wrote successful nan caption of nan video connected Instagram. “I can’t get complete seeing it and I’m amazed that nan donkey looks happy and healthy!”

In summation to clearing land, pulling wagons and providing wide cuteness, donkeys tin protect livestock connected farms. The battalion animals fiercely take sides their flocks by braying, kicking wildly and charging, teeth bared, astatine imaginable predators.

Drewry suspects that, if nan donkey Fennell spotted is so Diesel, he’s simply doing his donkey work and protecting his cervid friends.

“They learned to get on and beryllium each other’s family,” she told KOVR.

A video shared successful September past twelvemonth besides purported to show Diesel pinch his elk kin. The donkey successful that clip looked utterly content, trotting done gangly yellowish writer successful nan dappled sunlight.

Though she misses him, Drewry said she won’t effort to drawback Diesel and bring him back. As grazing animals, donkeys successful nan chaotic tin usually find plentifulness to eat. And nan donkey successful Fennell’s video appears to beryllium thriving successful nan wilderness, pinch friends by his side.

“He’s genuinely a chaotic burro now,” she said.