Silly ass! Donkey thinks car is a carrot
A DONKEY has landed his former owner with a £5,000 bill after mistaking a £260,000 orange supercar for a giant carrot.
Vitus showed the true meaning of being a silly ass by trying to snack on a McLaren 650S Spider parked next to his paddock.
Licking his lips at the sight of the brightly coloured bodywork, he went for a taste and bit into the car’s rear wing.
A court in Hesse, central Germany, has now ruled the donkey’s then owner, who has not been named, should pay 5,800 euros (£5,090) in compensation.
Markus Zahn, a 50-year-old businessman told of his shock after stopping in his car.
He said: “I looked in the rear-view mirror and suddenly saw a pair of fluffy ears. And then I heard a strange sound.
“It came from a donkey, who was gnawing at my fender.
“The donkey probably thought the car was a carrot on wheels.”
After the court ruling he added: “Of course I am not angry with the donkey and glad that everything is now settled.”
At first Markus tried to scare the donkey by turning on the hazard lights but Vitus was undeterred – and bit down again.
The damage resulted in the compensation claim for paintwork and part of the carbon fibre on the rear wing.
The matter went to court after the owner’s insurance company refused to pay out, arguing that the car should not have parked so close to the paddock.
Vitus now lives on Christina Hahner’s farm in nearby Poppenhausen with donkeys Mona and Resi.
Ms Hahner said yesterday: “He has been with us for a month and he has a job. We are looking forward to the next generation.”