More than just the ‘Shrek’ donkey: Remembering Barron Park’s Perry

Published Jan. 15, 2025, 7:43 p.m., last updated Jan. 15, 2025, 7:43 p.m.

Students who cycle, run or stroll off-campus on Bol Park’s bike path often slow their motion to stop and greet the Barron Park donkeys, a small herd of donkeys that live in a sanctuary just under two miles from EVGR. In recent weeks, however, these visits have been more frequent and more solemn, paying respect to Perry the donkey, who died earlier this month. 

Perhaps most famously, Perry was known for his role in inspiring the animation of the character Donkey in DreamWorks’ “Shrek.” But the animal was beloved by his handlers, visitors and fellow donkeys for much more than helping the animators mimic a donkey’s motion in the film. 

“To us, he was not the Shrek donkey. He was our Perry,” said Jenny Kiratli, lead handler at the Barron Park Donkey Project (BPDP).

Perry, then just around three-years-old, arrived at BPDP in the spring of 1997, where he bonded with a much older donkey named Mickey. Another donkey, Niner, arrived shortly after Perry. 

According to Kiratli, these two bonded incredibly well. Perry and Niner were a pair for the next 18 years, with the former following Niner around at all times. When Niner was out of sight, Kiratli said Perry would “bray and look all sad,” until his companion came back into sight. 

When Niner died, another donkey, Jenny, joined the crew.

“He was besotted,” Kiratli said. Perry followed Jenny around with the same loyalty he’d had for his late companion. 

Kiratli said that the remaining donkeys, called Buddy and April, are grieving Perry’s loss. As these two are extra sensitive to loneliness, she called for people to continue visiting the donkeys as much as they can.

Humans are also grieving Perry’s passing, including several Stanford students. 

Luke Veit ’25, who’s used to running by Bol Park Donkeys with Stanford’s Running Club, wrote that “running by Perry was always a highlight of [his] days.”

Veit, a fan of the Shrek movie, said that it was nice to have a piece of Shrek history so close. “Now, when I run by, I’ll silently hum All-Star in his honor,” he said. 

Kiratli explained that while the character of Donkey had existed long before the animators met Perry, observing his movements served as much of the basis for the animation choices. For several hours, around a dozen animators watched, sketched and filmed the donkey as he walked around, played and went through his daily motions. 

Kyle Haslett ’25, a co-director of FLiCKS, which screens bi-weekly movies in CEMEX auditorium, was already planning a Shrek screening when he heard of Perry’s passing. Although he had some knowledge of the donkey from his friends who grew up in the area and his experience acquiring animals for campus events, Haslett learned much of what he knew about Perry in hindsight.

After reading about Perry’s “super expensive” medical complications and visiting Barron Park, he said that Perry was a symbol of “resilience.” 

“In the end, he really just lost mobility. And that was the hardest thing,” Kiratli said. “He’d stumble around and it was just so painful.” 

But Haslett said that the screening of Shrek felt like a great way “to give Perry one more good showing in the spotlight in his hometown.” 

Kiratli said that the larger community in Bol Park has been celebrating Perry’s life too. When she passes by neighbors, they share their own stories of the donkey with her, from childhood experiences visiting Perry to bringing their own children to meet him. To that end, a memorial service will be held at Bol Park in Perry’s honor on Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., where Kiratli encourages community members to share their memories. 

Oriana Riley ’25 is a News Managing Editor at The Daily. Every once in a while, she drops an iconic Campus Life article. Outside of The Daily, Oriana enjoys running a lot of miles and eating a lot of food. Contact Oriana at news ‘at’ stanforddaily.com.

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