Police 'ecstatic' after baby donkey stolen from Hampshire farm is found safe in Buckinghamshire
Credit: Miller's Ark.
A newborn donkey that was stolen from a farm in Hampshire more than two weeks ago has been found.
The three-month old, named Moon, was taken from a field at Miller's Ark in Hook on 15 May.
Late last night police were contacted by the farm, who had been sent some information about Moon.
Officers were immediately deployed to an address on White House Lane in High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. At around 8.15pm the stolen donkey was located, recovered and returned to the delight of the owners.
On social media, the farm owner said Moon appears to be in good health.
In a post on Facebook, Elizabeth from Miller's ArK said: "Yesterday evening we travelled to Buckinghamshire, liaised with Thames Valley Police and have recovered little Moon.
"We are beyond thrilled and Mum and foal are finally back together. Moon appears to be in good health, thank heaven, and we will make sure that Moon and her mum Astra get lots of love and care as they re discover each other.
"It is because of all of you, amazing people, who have supported Moon, Astra and the team at Miller’s Ark, sharing this story far and wide - and now you have brought her home. A huge thank you to all streams of the media who spread the story further, Thames Valley Police for their quick response and Surrey and Hampshire Police for their work behind the scenes."
When Moon was taken, Elizabeth said she was concerned Moon might not be able to survive without her mother, Astra, who had been struggling with the separation.
In a video, Moon's mother could be seen braying.
Police Sergeant Stuart Ross, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Countrywatch team, said: "This was a fantastic piece of joint working from Countrywatch and Thames Valley Police's Rural Task Force team.
"Our appeals to find Moon attracted countless calls and online reports from members of the public with possible sightings and potential lines of enquiry and we want to thank everyone who shared these appeals and got in touch with us.
"We have worked tirelessly to locate Moon, scouring CCTV footage to see if we could find her, so we are absolutely delighted about this positive outcome.
"Hampshire & the Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Country Watch team will continue with an investigation into the circumstances of the theft of this donkey."
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...