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'Gay' bull Benjy arrives at new Norfolk home Benjy the 'gay' bull: Simpsons' Sam Simon co-funds Hillside Animal Sanctuary home
(35 minutes later)
A gay bull saved after a campaign backed by Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon appears to have found romance within minutes of arriving at his new home.A gay bull saved after a 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.