“WE STILL find it hard to believe, it feels like a bad dream” – those were the words of the owner of a farm where a baby donkey was reunited with her mother more than two weeks after being stolen.

Elizabeth Miller, who owns Miller’s Ark Farm near Hook, said foal Moon and her mother Astra are “doing well” after they were reunited on May 31.

She said the farm had almost given up hope of ever finding Moon when police deployed officers to an address in High Wycombe at 8.15pm on May 31, where the stolen donkey was located, recovered and returned to her mother at Miller’s Ark.

READ MORE: Baby Moon: Two people arrested in connection with theft of donkey

Elizabeth said: “Moon is eating and drinking really well and bouncing around with her friends and showing relaxed behaviour. Astra has also settled down and is less stressed and enjoying being around Moon. So, it’s going as hoped a week on.”

Moon was stolen from her mother from a field at Miller’s Ark on May 15, sparking a huge appeal to find her.

Elizabeth said: “As time went on if I’m honest, I thought ‘this isn’t going to happen’. But we felt incredibly supported by the individual messages we received and the media and I kept thinking ‘maybe’.

"We still find it hard to believe, it feels like a bad dream. But she’s here with us and is happy and healthy.”

She added: “It was certainly a combination of the media and social media appeals that helped find her. In the old days with communication, we would have never found her.”

See also: Tiny baby donkey stolen from mother at Miller's Ark Farm

Elizabeth said when Moon was returned she had been “looked after and cared for”, however, as yet she has no idea why the donkey was taken or by whom.

She has since invested in additional security for Miller’s Ark and said: “I’m a very positive-thinking person so I try not to dwell on the negatives of life. From my point of view, I see it as a one-off. We go on and enjoy the farm.”

Elizabeth said visitors have enjoyed seeing Moon and Astra out in the fields, adding: “Moon and Astra are doing well and having lots of cuddles. Although Moon had to be very grown up while she was away, she is still a big baby at heart.

“We have discovered that Astra likes being tickled in her ears so she has had a lot of attention too. Mum and foal are gradually settling back into the routine of the donkey nursey group.”

She said visitors have enjoyed seeing the pair together in the field during open days at the farm.

The farm has been gifted a piece of artwork of Moon and Astra, created by Jasmine Wheatley showing “the special bond between a mother and her foal”.

The print version can be bought online here, with money raised going to Miller’s Ark.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Countrywatch team, assisted by the Thames Valley Police Rural Crime Taskforce, arrested a 17-year-old male and a 38-year-old male from High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, on June 1 on suspicion of theft in connection with the donkey's theft. 

Both were released under investigation while further enquiries continue.