New donkey first of 12 new animals to join farm in Josaphat Park

Josaphat Park in Schaerbeek is welcoming a new donkey, turning its donkey duo into a trio. Donkey Napoleon was supposed to arrive today, but a complication with the transport means his anticipated arrival has been postponed for a week.

Napoleon will join resident donkeys Camille and Gribouille (pictured), who have called the animal pen in the lovely park their home for more than 10 years. The pair do more than just look cute: They are taken on rounds in the park and surrounding streets pulling a wagon that collects trash from the bins.

Historically, the people of Schaerbeek have been known as donkeys, so Camille and Gribouille – and soon Napoleon – are beloved mascots. They share the pen on the east side of the park with a handful of chickens.

Napoleon has been adopted from a village in Wallonia. Schaerbeek will be adopting and buying other animals for the little farm in the coming weeks as well, including swans, turkeys, goats and sheep.

“The public isn’t familiar enough with our municipal animal park,” city councillor Deborah Lorenzino (DéFi) told Het Nieuwsblad. “Napoleon’s arrival is the first step in a project to introduce the farm to a broader range of people.”

Lorenzino is responsible for both green space and animal welfare in the municipality and wants residents, and especially children, to be able to see farm animals up close. “Informational panels will also be placed with facts about the animals,” says Lorenzino.

Photo courtesy Schaerbeek 1030