Montenegro donkey farm owner sings Vivaldi to lull animals to sleep
Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A donkey farm in Martinići, Montenegro, is unique for its owner's practice of singing to the animals, particularly Vivaldi's "Concerto for Mandolin."
- Owner Darko Saveljić began singing to his donkeys two to three years ago, initially posting videos online which gained millions of views.
- The farm has become a tourist attraction, with visitors paying with carrots and sometimes bringing musicians to serenade the donkeys.
At a donkey farm in Martinići, Montenegro, a unique practice is challenging stereotypes: the owner sings to his animals, lulling them to sleep with music.
Darko Saveljić, the farm's owner, has been introducing his donkeys to music since their first days. He specifically plays Vivaldi's "Concerto for Mandolin" for them daily, from morning to night. Saveljić noticed that when he sings to them, they calm down and seem to enjoy it, much like a baby.
Saveljić's musical endeavors with the donkeys began about two to three years ago when he was idle. He started singing to a donkey, recorded it, and posted the video online. To his surprise, the video garnered millions of views, sparking interest in his unusual method of animal care.
The farm has since attracted visitors, including musicians, who are drawn to the unique atmosphere. The admission fee is unconventional: one kilogram of carrots per person, which the visitors feed to the donkeys. This has created a cheerful environment where people interact positively with the animals. Even young donkeys, like Čokolin, are being introduced to Vivaldi, with Saveljić ensuring they are accustomed to the music from an early age.
Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.