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'Gay' bull Benjy arrives at new Norfolk home | 'Gay' bull Benjy arrives at new Norfolk home |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A gay bull saved after campaign backed by Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon appears to have found romance within minutes of arriving at his new home. | |
Benjy, from County Mayo, Ireland, was destined for the abattoir after showing more interest in breeding with other bulls than cows. | Benjy, from County Mayo, Ireland, was destined for the abattoir after showing more interest in breeding with other bulls than cows. |
He arrived at Norfolk's Hillside Animal Sanctuary on Sunday where he befriended Alex, a one-year-old bullock. | He arrived at Norfolk's Hillside Animal Sanctuary on Sunday where he befriended Alex, a one-year-old bullock. |
"He's a handsome little lad, so you can't blame him," said a spokeswoman. | "He's a handsome little lad, so you can't blame him," said a spokeswoman. |
Mr Simon said it "thrills" him to have helped Benjy. | Mr Simon said it "thrills" him to have helped Benjy. |
Stefanie Leary, yard manager at Hillside, said: "Benjy's here because he's gay and is of no use to the farming industry. This has happened to have saved his life. | Stefanie Leary, yard manager at Hillside, said: "Benjy's here because he's gay and is of no use to the farming industry. This has happened to have saved his life. |
"Today has gone reasonably well. He's travelled a long distance and is stressed, but he's coping with it well." | "Today has gone reasonably well. He's travelled a long distance and is stressed, but he's coping with it well." |
Gay and animal rights campaigners launched a joint online appeal to save the two-year-old Charolais bull. | Gay and animal rights campaigners launched a joint online appeal to save the two-year-old Charolais bull. |
It raised £10,000 in weeks, helped by a £5,000 donation from Mr Simon. The money will be used to fund Benjy's keep and welfare. | It raised £10,000 in weeks, helped by a £5,000 donation from Mr Simon. The money will be used to fund Benjy's keep and welfare. |
The Simpson's producer, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012, was alerted to the bull's plight by animal rights campaigners PETA. | The Simpson's producer, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012, was alerted to the bull's plight by animal rights campaigners PETA. |
"I believe in compassion and empathy for all living beings - regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or species," he said. | "I believe in compassion and empathy for all living beings - regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or species," he said. |
"I felt compelled to help. All animals have a dire destiny in the meat and dairy industries, but for Benjy to have been killed because of his sexual orientation would have been a double tragedy. | "I felt compelled to help. All animals have a dire destiny in the meat and dairy industries, but for Benjy to have been killed because of his sexual orientation would have been a double tragedy. |
"My health won't allow me to travel to the UK to see Benjy in his new home, but it thrills me to know that his fate is a sanctuary rather than a sandwich." | "My health won't allow me to travel to the UK to see Benjy in his new home, but it thrills me to know that his fate is a sanctuary rather than a sandwich." |
Since being diagnosed with cancer, Mr Simon has donated millions of dollars, earned through creating TV cartoon The Simpsons, to various animal welfare projects around the world. | Since being diagnosed with cancer, Mr Simon has donated millions of dollars, earned through creating TV cartoon The Simpsons, to various animal welfare projects around the world. |
He said helping animals is "like a therapy". | He said helping animals is "like a therapy". |
Benjy will be castrated as the sanctuary, near Norwich, has a primary role to care for rescued animals not breed their own stock. | Benjy will be castrated as the sanctuary, near Norwich, has a primary role to care for rescued animals not breed their own stock. |
"We put any animal arriving with us into quarantine to access their personality and requirements," said Hillside's John Watson. | "We put any animal arriving with us into quarantine to access their personality and requirements," said Hillside's John Watson. |
"Cows have real personalities so depending on what Benjy is like we'll then place him with a herd to which he's best suited. | "Cows have real personalities so depending on what Benjy is like we'll then place him with a herd to which he's best suited. |
"Once we've found him a herd he'll be with them for life as animals form very strong bonds with each other so we would never split them up." | "Once we've found him a herd he'll be with them for life as animals form very strong bonds with each other so we would never split them up." |
The sanctuary cares for more than 2,000 animals, including 300 cattle, the majority of which have been saved from the farming industry. | The sanctuary cares for more than 2,000 animals, including 300 cattle, the majority of which have been saved from the farming industry. |
As for Benjy's early interest in Alex, Ms Leary said: "He's a handsome little lad, so you can't blame him - but it might be just Benjy's interest in cows in general - but you never know, watch this space as they say." | As for Benjy's early interest in Alex, Ms Leary said: "He's a handsome little lad, so you can't blame him - but it might be just Benjy's interest in cows in general - but you never know, watch this space as they say." |
Homosexual behaviour has been observed in 1,500 animal species with bats widely thought to be the animals with the highest rate of homosexuality among their male population. | Homosexual behaviour has been observed in 1,500 animal species with bats widely thought to be the animals with the highest rate of homosexuality among their male population. |