Two men arrested on suspicion of theft after baby donkey Moon disappeared from farm in Hampshire

• The foal, Moon, was missing from its mother Astra for more than two weeks 
• Officers arrested a 17-year-old man and 38-year-old man on Thursday evening  

Two men have been arrested in connection with the theft of a 12-week-old donkey that disappeared for more than two weeks.

The young foal, named Moon, was taken from Miller’s Ark Animals in Hook, Hampshire, before 5pm on May 15.

Hampshire police said appeals for information attracted ‘countless calls and online reports from members of the public’ before the animal was finally reunited with its mother, Astra, at the farm on Wednesday evening.

Officers arrested a 17-year-old man and 38-year-old man from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on suspicion of theft on Thursday evening.

On May 25 there were reports that a woman told police she saw a blue estate car with a baby donkey in the back.

Hampshire Police said: ‘A woman reported she had been driving with her friend at about 3pm on 15 May on Upper Hale Road in Farnham when she came to a stop at some traffic lights at the junction with A325.

‘She said the car in front of her, a blue estate of unknown make and model, had a baby donkey in the back. The blue estate turned right at the traffic lights towards Farnham.

‘CCTV enquiries have been carried out in the area and we would now like the public’s help in locating this vehicle and identifying the make and model.

‘If you were driving in this area around 3pm on 15 May and have a dash cam on your vehicle, your footage may be of use to our investigation.’

Following the theft, Moon’s distraught mother Astra was filmed crying for her newborn foal. 

Speaking of the arrests, a force spokesman said: ‘Officers from our Countrywatch team, assisted by the Thames Valley Police Rural Crime Taskforce, made two arrests yesterday evening.

‘Suspected stolen plant machinery was also recovered from the scene on Whitehouse Lane in High Wycombe.

‘Both have been released under investigation while further inquiries continue.’

Miller’s Ark owner Elizabeth Miller said the incident brought sadness to the public, which she found ‘really overwhelming’.

A video posted on the farm’s Facebook page shows Ms Miller hugging and kissing Moon, which is wagging its tail.

‘We are beyond thrilled and mum and foal are finally back together,’ the Facebook post reads.

‘Moon appears to be in good health, thank heavens, and we will make sure that Moon and her mum, Astra, get lots of love and care as they rediscover each other.’

In a statement, the rural crime team confirmed Moon was found ‘unharmed’ on Wednesday and reunited with her mother. 

Before the baby donkey came home, a Facebook post from the farm was shared thousands of times and provided regular updates on possible sightings.

Mother Astra had been left braying in distress by the theft of her foal, the farm said.

Pam Jessopp, a farm volunteer, said she wanted to thank the public for their help.

‘We are beyond excited…you always hold out hope but as the timeframe and the time window got larger you do wonder if she would be found or not.

‘It is so much down to members of the public, our supporters that have got the word out there and spread it on social media. It’s been a heartfelt story that has caught people’s emotions.

‘We are very grateful to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Surrey Police and Thames Valley Police for their support and investigation and for the speedy action.’

Hampshire police confirmed they were continuing to investigate the circumstances of the theft.

Miller’s Ark added at the time: ‘A plea for anyone who may have been driving in the area at this relevant time and date, businesses and residents to check any dashcam footage, CCTV or doorbell footage which may extend on to the road.

‘We are completely devastated and incredibly concerned, she was only born at the beginning of March and needs to be with her mum.

‘This little donkey will be braying loudly tonight because she will be missing her mum badly.

‘This is our chance to find her. If you or anyone you know took her, please return her to the farm tonight, so she can go back with her mother who is very distressed.’

Today the animal farm said: ‘Yesterday evening we travelled to Buckinghamshire, liaised with Thames Valley Police and have recovered little Moon.

‘We are beyond thrilled and mum and foal are finally back together.

‘Moon appears to be in good health, thank heaven, and we will make sure that Moon and her mum Astra get lots of love and care as they re-discover each other.

‘It is because of all of you, amazing people, who have supported Moon, Astra and the team at Miller’s Ark, sharing this story far and wide – and now you have brought her home.

‘A huge thank you to all streams of the media who spread the story further, Thames Valley Police for their quick response and Surrey and Hampshire Police for their work behind the scenes.’

Police said yesterday morning: ‘We immediately deployed officers to an address on White House Lane in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

‘At around 8.15pm the stolen donkey was located, recovered and returned to the delight of the owners.’

Sergeant Stuart Ross, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Countrywatch team, said ‘This was a fantastic piece of joint working from Countrywatch and Thames Valley Police’s Rural Task Force team.

‘We have worked tirelessly to locate Moon, scouring CCTV footage to see if we could find her, so we are absolutely delighted about this positive outcome.

‘Our Country Watch team will continue with an investigation into the circumstances of the theft of this donkey.’

Police said: ‘Our investigation is still ongoing so anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 44230191581.’

A £10,000 reward was offered for its safe return.

The national campaign sparked outrage, with animal lovers calling for Moon to be reunited with Astra.

The farm’s owner, Elizabeth Miller, said she realised Moon was missing when she went to bring all of the mothers and foals back from the fields in the evening.

She said she was ‘gravely concerned’ that the adorable foal might not be strong enough to survive without Astra, who was ‘not coping well without her baby’.

She said: ‘Astra has been just completely devastated, just really stressed, pacing up and down the fence line, braying.

‘She doesn’t know what to do with herself because all of her natural instincts are to find the foal.’

Elizabeth added that the poor donkey was so distraught, she had barely eaten since the incident, but all efforts were now in place to reunite the pair.

She also suggested that with the presence of unfamiliar faces at the farm, the foal could have been swiped as staff looked after visiting tourists.

She said: ‘We feel she may have been lifted over the fence and taken away. They’re very small and they’re very friendly, so we think that’s what has happened.’

According to the farm’s website, Miller’s Ark Animals is based on the Earl of Malmesbury’s estate and specialises in breeding British rare breed farm animals, including Irish Moiled cattle and miniature Mediterranean donkeys, among others.