In the morning, the little striped donkey was the first among the newly arrived animals to be examined by the chief veterinarian in the century-old ancient zoo.

The Veterinarian: With every new shipment of animals recently arrived at the zoo, the old veterinarian would perform his recurring work energetically, conducting a precise medical examination on them to treat any wounds or diseases they might have. He then ordered them placed in cages or pens designated for their type so the public could see them.

The Little Striped Donkey and the Examination: As soon as the workers brought the new little striped donkey into the examination room, his revolt began. He reared up on his hind legs and let out that weak, hoarse braying sound that striped donkeys make.

But with a pain that made his voice affecting. When the workers tried to control him and push him toward the wall to begin, he started hitting his head against the wall, until the old veterinarian feared the little one would kill himself. He ordered him taken out a bit into the open air. Strangely, the little donkey was resisting leaving the room! And resumed agitation and braying.

The Reason for the Little Striped Donkey’s Agitation: The old veterinarian was amazed at the behavior of the little striped donkey, whom he hadn’t seen the like of in fifty years spent among animals. He thought the little striped donkey was crying, as his beautiful eyes shone as if filled with tears. He discovered that the little striped donkey kept his gaze fixed on the wall behind the desk where he sat.

The Veterinarian’s Reaction: He turned around to notice in shock a patch of skin of a large striped donkey decorating the wall behind him. After minutes of deep trance that the old veterinarian spent staring at the striped donkey skin patch on the wall, he ordered the workers to remove the patch of skin fastened with small nails to the wall and take it down.

The Little Striped Donkey’s Feelings: The little striped donkey increased his agitation as they gathered around the skin patch to remove it. As soon as it fell to the ground, the little striped donkey rushed with sudden force, knocking the men outside the patch which lay flat on the room’s floor. Then a strange silence prevailed. The little striped donkey was lying on the piece of striped skin, rubbing his head in it, making a small affecting sound, as if sobbing!

Information about the Striped Skin Patch: Silence prevailed, as the workers’ faces appeared stunned by what they saw. The old veterinarian was crying with large tears and without sound. Then he slowly bent down and gently lifted the striped skin patch at the neck area, reading the information usually written on the back of these patches: Impotsha, female nursing zebra, died during transport, January 15, 1981. The old veterinarian returned the skin patch to its position and stood up without his tears stopping. He took the little striped donkey’s arrival file.

Information about the Little Striped Donkey: Male zebra, estimated age two years, hunting date February 17, 1981, hunting location Namibia Impotsha Forest. The old veterinarian wiped his tears and began addressing the workers who stood silent, waiting for his instructions.

The Veterinarian’s Instructions: He told them to carry the little striped donkey along with the striped skin patch and take him down to a special garden at the zoo hospital. This skin patch is for his mother, who was hunted while nursing him before he reached weaning. He recognized her from the fingerprint of white and black threads on her skin, a fingerprint that doesn’t repeat exactly like human fingerprints, where no one resembles another. He didn’t forget her despite more than a year passing since their separation, and he may never forget her.