With its dove-grey coat, large ears, and gentle demeanour, the Cotentin donkey (Equus asinus) is part of the Norman landscape. In the past, they used to carry milk jugs and ‘triolettes’ (maids sitting aside on donkeys). The introduction of mechanisation in the farms however caused their number to drop drastically, almost disappearing. But thanks to the action of enthusiasts such as Brigitte Pieau of the Domaine d’Esthine, the Cotentin donkey herd has now reached about 2,000 individuals throughout France.