The founder of the world's biggest donkey charity has died of a stroke, aged 81.
Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE launched The Donkey Sanctuary in 1969 and has since helped over 10 million donkeys worldwide.
Under her management, the charity, based in Sidmouth, Devon, has gone from caring for just one animal to treating thousands of donkeys and mules every year.
Dr Svendsen died on Wednesday leaving behind her family of four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Despite her death, her family has vowed to continue running the charity, which supports work in impoverished countries like Mexico, Kenya and Ethiopia.
The Donkey Sanctuary's chief executive David Cook said: ''The loss of Dr Svendsen will be felt deeply by her staff who loved her dearly, as well as Donkey Sanctuary supporters all over the world. Her son, Paul, and granddaughter Dawn remain deeply involved with The Donkey Sanctuary's work and our heart goes out to the family at this devastating time.
''The charity that Dr Svendsen built from nothing to the international organisation it is today, will continue its work in her memory, holding fast to her vision of a world in which every donkey and mule receives the care and respect it so needs."
Animal lover Dr Svendsen founded the sanctuary over 40 years ago after seeing seven emaciated donkeys crammed into a pen at a market.
She tried unsuccessfully to buy the animals and from that day on vowed to make it her life's work to protect and nurture the creatures.
Dr Svendsen started with just one donkey, named Naughty Face, but by 1973 was looking after 38 and officially registered it as a charity.
That year Elisabeth received a phone call from a solicitor to tell her that an elderly spinster, Miss Violet Philpin had left her a surprising legacy in her will – of 204 donkeys.
She was awarded the MBE in 1980 and an Honorary Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in 1992 from the University of Glasgow.
In 2001 she was given the Lord Erskine Award by the RSPCA, in recognition of her important contribution to the field of animal welfare.
Chelsea United States Alexander McCall Smith Kazakhmys Office for National Statistics Lancashire
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