Perry, the beloved miniature donkey who inspired the iconic character of Donkey in the beloved "Shrek" franchise, has passed away at the ripe old age of 30. Jenny Kiratli, Perry's devoted caretaker, confirmed to PEOPLE that the cherished animal, who resided in a community-maintained pasture in Barron Park, Palo Alto, California, succumbed to laminitis, a painful hoof ailment, on Thursday, January 2. Despite a long and arduous battle, Perry was eventually euthanized.
"Perry was a cherished member of our community, and his passing has left us all in deep mourning," Kiratli reminisced about Perry's legacy. She shared that Perry arrived at the pasture in 1997, at just three years old, with the intention of soothing polo horses. "However, his spirited nature meant that he was anything but calm," she chuckled.
"Perry possessed an enormous personality," she continued. "Children flocked to see him constantly, unaware of his fame as the 'Shrek' donkey. To them, he was just a cute, fluffy creature they loved to pet." Yet, Kiratli assured, "Many of Donkey's classic expressions and movements, like head tilts, eye rolls, and bouncey trots, were directly inspired by Perry."
Perry shared his pasture home with two other donkeys, April and Buddy, who were allowed to bid him farewell after his demise. "Throughout the night, they approached him, sniffing and nudging, realizing he was gone. They mourned deeply," Kiratli recounted to Palo Alto Online.
Kiratli reminisced about how Perry became the movement model for the Donkey character, famously voiced by Eddie Murphy. One of the "Shrek" animators, who lived nearby, became aware of Perry through his wife and subsequently brought a team of DreamWorks animators to observe the donkey for hours.
Soon, plans for a memorial celebrating Perry's life will be announced, as per an Instagram post from the Barron Park Donkeys official account.
Kiratli informed PEOPLE that donkeys have been an informal residents of the area since the 1950s. "Parents and even grandparents bring their children to see the donkeys, recalling their own childhood memories of them. They are intertwined with the lives of so many people," she said.
Kiratli emphasized that the donkey pasture at Barron Park is not an official rescue operation but a community-driven initiative where volunteers ensure the donkeys' needs are met with love and care. "We have a group of around three dozen volunteers," she said, adding, "The donkeys receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they enjoy a special walk on Sundays."
