We made a new friend today, someone really special: guarà or ruc català, the Catalan donkey.
We were on a hike in the Montseny area (we love these mountains which are really close to Barcelona), when suddenly this friendly pal appeared on our way. So we made a stop to say hi and meet him, he looked so happy to meet us as well :-)
The Catalan donkey, Guarà
It turns out we met one of the most iconic animals in Catalonia: guarà or ruc català (Catalan donkey) is such a symbol in the country. If there is an animal which represents a country, in this country it is this donkey the one chosen. Keep reading to discover why this animal was the one to represent the Catalan people ;-)
The one we met lives in Sant Esteve de Palautordera (a little town near Montseny), in the beginning of the trail from Sant Esteve de Palautordera toSanta Magdalena de Mosqueroles. The diverse landscapes that we encountered along the trail kind of reminded us of Montana, which was amazing. Look at these beautiful cabins in the plains:
Why is the Catalan donkey a symbol of Catalonia?
You may ask yourself. So here is the story behind this friendly animal: the Catalan donkey, guarà, is an autochthonous race to Catalonia. It was used for agricultural work, specifically carrying out transportation tasks. Actually, the Catalan donkey has long been the most widespread pack animal in all of Spain.
The Catalan donkey is actually known for its high power, resistance and strong character, values which somehow also reflected the will and character of the Catalan people. This is how it ended up becoming one of the symbols of a nation. However, due to its declining use in the farm nowadays, the Catalan donkey is in danger of extinction: there were once as many as 50.000 but today they are just around 500.
But when did exactly the Catalan donkey become a symbol?
It was in 2004 when two designers decided to create stickers of the Catalan donkey as a way to raise awareness of this endangered animal. From that moment on, a lot of cars were starting to be seen wearing this sticker, and a pretty big “symbol revolution” took place. Almost everybody knew that sticker and what it represented, also linked to the Catalan people’s identity.
The Kentucky-Catalan donkey
Here is a fun fact: did you know that George Washington brought some Catalan donkeys to the United States in order to strengthen the genetics of local species. This is how a new race was born in the United States: the Kentucky-Catalan donkey.
American bison in the United States, also an icon
Because usually there is always an animal which is used as a symbol for representing a country or a culture. For instance, in the United States there is the American bison. It also represents values linked to the American culture: it is a symbol of unity, resilience and healthy landscapes and communities, as it is reflected in the National Bison Legacy Act on April 28, 2016.
When we visited Yellowstone National Park and met them from a closer perspective, it was such a beautiful experience:
Both the Catalan donkey and the American bison reflect part of the autochthonous fauna, and we really love discovering places through the fauna and flora that inhabit them. And in the cultural Catalan imaginary there is also another outstanding symbol but in terms of food: Eating calçots in Barcelona.