Perry, the mini donkey who served as a model for the character in the DreamWorks movie Shrek, died at the age of 30 on January 2, after a prolonged battle with laminitis and other health issues.
Perry was a famous icon in Palo Alto, California, where he lived at the Barron Park Donkey Project and was a beloved mascot, capturing the hearts of both movie fans and visitors. His death was confirmed by Barron Park Donkeys, the organization that cared for him since 1997, in an emotional statement: "We are heartbroken to share that our beloved Barron Park donkey, Perry, passed away yesterday at the age of 30."
"Although it was too soon for us, for him it was the right time to say goodbye," said Jenny Kiratli, Perry's caretaker.
In 1997, Perry was donated to Barron Park, where animators from Pacific Data Images (PDI) closely observed him to perfect their animated version of Donkey. Despite his contribution to the Shrek saga, Perry was not credited in the film.
הצגת פוסט זה באינסטגרם
Perry was five years old when he modeled for the Shrek animators, contributing to the character's design and movements. He received a symbolic payment of $75 for his time from PDI.
Perry spent nearly his entire life at the Barron Park Donkey Project in Palo Alto. Perry was euthanized after suffering from laminitis, which caused a fatal infection in one of his hooves.
Residents of Palo Alto and Perry's fans expressed their sorrow and shared condolences on social media. "A precious part of growing up in Barron Park has been the donkeys. We will miss Perry very much," one user commented.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq