Coverage dated November 2, 2026 to November 3, 2026
An unusual sexual bond between a bull and a male donkey
Headline from Phys
Sex between animals of the same sex is widespread in nature. But researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on Nov. 2 describe an unusual partnership involving an ongoing sexual relationship between a bull and a male donkey living on an Ethiopian plateau.
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Sex between animals of the same sex is widespread in nature. But researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on Nov. 2 describe an unusual partnership involving an ongoing sexual relationship between a bull and a male donkey living on an Ethiopian plateau.
Researchers documented a selective relationship between Achille, a bull, and Patroclo, a male donkey, on an Ethiopian plateau: over four days, they recorded repeated mounting alongside affectionate behaviors, despite both animals having other potential partners.
Patroclo and Achille’s interspecies affair sheds new light on social and sexual relations between animals, scientists say In ancient myth, Achilles and Patroclus were two Greek heroes of the Trojan war whose intense bond was believed by some to have turned into a sexual relationship.
