Donkey forced to parasail rescued by British newspaper

Moscow: It was a viral video sensation that enraged animal lovers. Anapka, the donkey was strapped into a harness and forced to parasail over a southern Russian beach as a promotion stunt.

Now, thanks to a British newspaper, Anapka will get a new home and will never be launched again.  

Amateur video footage from July 20 showed men attaching a parasail harness to the trembling female donkey at the Azov Sea resort of Golubitskaya, in Russia's southern Krasnodar Region.

The English-language Kremlin news channel Russia Today reported at the time that sunbathers were distressed at the sight of the flying donkey, which brayed in fear as it glided above the bay for half an hour.

The Sun bought Anapka after thousands of readers encouraged the paper to rescue the animal.

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Garry O'Shea, correspondent, Britain's 'The Sun' newspaper said, "They wanted us to do something, they wanted us to ensure the well-being of this animal and that's why 'The Sun' newspaper sent a rescue team out to southern Russia to secure that animal's well-being."

A Sun correspondent was on hand to greet Anapka at Moscow riding club. She'll stay there for about a month while the paper decided what to do with her.

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Veterinarians say the 17-year-old donkey was tired after her trip, but otherwise seemed healthy.

An English soccer team's coach may give Anapka a new home at an animal sanctuary he is opening.