Scientists report an unusual ongoing sexual relationship between a bull and a male donkey, in which the animals repeatedly choose each other despite the presence of many females nearby. The reports say the pair are living together on an Ethiopian plateau.
The different outlets frame the finding as same-sex sexual behavior in animals, with emphasis varying from the novelty of the “bond” to the broader point that animal behavior is complex and not limited to simple categories. Phys.org and ScienceAlert describe the researchers’ observation in connection with publication in the journal Current Biology, while Popular Science adds details about affectionate behaviors such as licking, rubbing, and nuzzling. The Daily Mail headlines the story in a more sensational, human-language way, but its summary is broadly aligned with the accounts from other outlets.
