Burrolandia: The donkey obsession

2022–202643 photographs

Twenty years ago, German Flores decided to start preserving the Mexican donkey, an endangered species with only 300 to 500 individuals in the whole country. Seeing that the donkey population in Mexico was decreasing led Germán Flores to start taking care of them. It was a natural decision for him, since it´s part of the identity of his town, Otumba, Mexico State, a place where even this species is very famous, it´s also severely mistreated. After trying to convince the government to take action without a response, he decided to talk with his children and his wife, and they decided to pursue as a family the crazy idea of protecting, caring for, and preserving Mexico's donkey. This is how Burrolandia was born, to give dignified living conditions to around 100 “burritos” that come mostly from exploitation and abuse situations around Mexico. Even though these animals came from colonization, brought from Africa by Spanish people, they became essential living beings for us Mexicans. Nowadays, their decline primarily comes from mechanization replacing traditional work animals, which is why they have been abandoned or mistreated by people who previously “used” them. Germán is in love with these animals: “They are incredibly grateful little animals, very noble, and they awaken tenderness in you. They awaken a spiritual peace when you are with them; they give you balance, balance in body, mind and spirit.” It´s common to see him preparing a raffle, selling something he owns, or making efforts to invite people to visit the sanctuary. He says all of this is worth it because when he was a 13 years old boy he had a donkey named Roberto, who transported him to make groceries for other people, so he could earn a little bit of extra money while being part of a poor family: “I was the Uber of the neighborhood, I would deliver to them the list of things they wanted and they would give me a tip. In that way I was able to buy my uniforms, my sneakers, pay for my school supplies.” This sanctuary is located in Otumba, Mexico State, in the area where German’s house is located. To feed the donkeys, he and his family need to give them 400 kilos of oats and alfalfa daily, which translates to around 6,000 USD every month, reason why they open their space to the public every weekend and ask people to support them. Even taking care of the donkeys has been very difficult, Germán’s son, Raúl, is now also on board working at Burrolandia. “Well I think it is very, very important, because it is a symbol of all the work, all the effort that we have had here in Mexico: this little animal has supported us for a very long time for different activities of carrying loads, transportation, development, not only of our locality, of the country, but even of the world, so it is something very worrying that the little donkey is disappearing.” This story is not only about Burrolandia, but about this man’s “craziness” for rescuing these animals, in a unique world he and his family have created following that dream.

Relámpago plays in front of the portrait's background, on December 30, 2025, in Burrolandia, Otumba, Mexico. Donkeys always run and roll over the floor when they are released from their stables in the first hours of the morning.

German Flores carries Coco, one of the smallest donkeys living at the Burrolandia sanctuary, in Otumba, Mexico State, on January 4, 2023. “This is not a job, this is my life”, says German about the daily activities he does at this place where donkeys are rescued from bad living conditions to have a second chance.

May 1st, 2026. People from around Mexico State compete in the annual donkey race, celebrated in Otumba, Mexico. This fair is well known in the area, and even though it is dedicated to this species, it’s very common to see mistreated animals across the different contests.

July 22, 2023. Otumba, Mexico. Donkeys made in "papel maché" artisanal technique can be seen around the sanctuary, evoking different professions and situations. One of these “scenes” is the donkey race, with which Germán openly disagrees because of all the mistreatment the animals suffer during this contest.

A stressed donkey puts out his tongue while waiting to participate in the annual costume contest on May 1st, 2026, where dozens of donkeys are taken to Otumba from different parts of Mexico State with the hope of winning money for the best characterization.

In November 11, 2025, Gume was rescued after his "owner" died. Erick and Raul Flores pull her and call her with food, while Anel - who contacted them - pushes her into the truck. Rescues are difficult, because the donkeys don't know how to get into the vehicle to transport them to their new home. After arriving to the shelter, people in social media voted to give Gume a new name: Noche Buena

German Flores (right) calms down the donkey Toribia, while his son Raul (left) holds buckets with carrots and oats to make her walk outside her stable, on December 6, 2024. Doña Catalina Aguilar (center) watches everything while saying goodbye to the donkey she took care of for around 4 years at her house, in Otumba, Mexico State. “I am sick and my hand hurts, so I can’t take care of her anymore”, explains Catalina after asking if she can visit the sanctuary to see her donkey again.

Michelle Hernández (left) and Alejandra Mejía (right) give Colibrí a bath, on December 17, 2022, at Burrolandia Sanctuary in Otumba, Mexico State. Cleaning the donkeys is important for their fur, even these animals will immediately go back to rolling around in the dust.

A girl pets Pulque during her visit to Burrolandia, in Otumba, Mexico State, on July 22, 2023. This sanctuary is open to public during weekends, so people can enjoy spending time with the donkeys.

Burrolandia opens every weekend so the public can come to visit the animals, feed them, play with them and learn more about this endangered species. Andrea Villarreal takes a photo of Apache during her visit on July 22, 2023.

Burrolandia sanctuary, Otumba, Mexico State, Mexico. May 9, 2026. Baby donkey Abril sleeps at her barn. Donkeys only sleep directly on the floor when they feel safe, and they can rest while standing.

Burrolandia sanctuary, Otumba, Mexico State, Mexico. May 14, 2026. Garza and Coco are hugged by German Flores, the sanctuary owner, during his morning checkup at Burrolandia.

German and a donkey mascot costume talk while Daniel, a sanctuary worker, drives by wearing a donkey mask, on May 1st, 2026. During the donkey fair celebration, Burrolandia makes an effort to be present in the ceremony to show "burritos" can be treated differently.

2025. On May 1st, Otumba celebrates the Donkey day. People from around the area bring their “burritos” in costumes for a competition for the most original disguise. Even this fair brings attention to this species, German Flores feels sad about this celebration, because it translates into another way of mistreating these animals.

Burrolandia sanctuary, Otumba, Mexico State, Mexico. May 9, 2026. The vet Paola Hernández carries Quetzalli's new baby to their barn. Quetzalli follows her closely. The baby suddenly appeared in the middle of the female garden, so they immediately separated her to make sure she was safe.

German Flores kisses a donkey at his sanctuary in Otumba, Mexico, on December 6, 2024.

German and Tribilin walks towards the sanctuary entrance after coming back from the town, on January 4, 2023. Burrolandia is located in Otumba, Mexico State.

Burrolandia sanctuary, Otumba, Mexico State, Mexico. May 14, 2026. German Flores hugs Pepita, while she feeds her newborn baby donkey. German and Pepita have a close relationship, but he says he can't have a favorite, so they don't feel bad.

German Flores walks with the donkey Tribilin, next to Teotihuacan archeological zone, in Mexico State, on January 4, 2023. Otumba and Teotihuacan are towns located next to each other; he tries to take donkeys around to invite tourists to visit the Burrolandia Sanctuary and symbolically adopt one of these animals, so he has economic resources to continue his preservation work.

German Flores pets the donkey Tribilin, while standing at Eje Central Avenue, in Mexico City, on December 21, 2022. Tribilin is very friendly, so he usually accompanies German to different activities around the city to spread the word about the Burrolandia sanctuary.

German Flores plays with the donkey Tribilin, while doing a preservation campaign at the Revolution Monument Square, in Mexico City, on December 20, 2022. His donkeys' sanctuary called Burrolandia keeps 96 animals for preservation and continuously requires help from “godfathers” who donate money for food, medicine and attention equipment.

German Flores feeds Pancho and other donkeys with carrots, at the Burrolandia sanctuary, in Otumba, Mexico State, on December 6, 2024. “They love carrots, it’s their favorite food, and they can’t resist it”, he says, as he drives his car around the fields while playing Zacatecas march music: “When they listen to this song, they know food is coming”. On his legs, his dog Pulga "drives".

Donkeys walk around their fields at Burrolandia, in Otumba, Mexico State, on July 22, 2023. Their morning activities consist on rolling over the ground, eating and playing. The fields are divided by gender and age, so they are safe.

Kids feed Jacinto with carrots, on May 1, 2026. This donkey has learned to stick out his tongue to call people's attention, so he usually gets more carrots than the rest of the donkeys in his barnyard. Behind him, the vet Paola Hernández talks to the visitors.

Ana María Mendoza pets the donkeys while visiting Burrolandia in July 22, 2023.

German Flores holds Pepita, one of the donkeys at Burrolandia's fields, in Otumba, Mexico State, on December 6, 2024. This activity is done by him to show the visitors the cross donkeys have on their backs. According to the myth, this is a gift from the Virgin Mary and her family for helping them to arrive at a safe place to give birth to Jesus.

German pets Tribilin after getting on the truck that will take them to the annual Donkey Fair in Otumba, on May 1st, 2026. The vehicle was full of bales for Tribilin to be more comfortable and decorated with donkey piñatas. German is against this fair, because they mistreat animals by doing different contests such as races and costume parades. This is why he always goes to the opening ceremony, to show these animals can be treated differently.

A donkey with a cut ear waits blindfolded during the annual Otumba Donkey Fair, on May 1st, 2026. It's common to see mistreated or injured animals during this celebration.

Gotita and another donkey eat in front of the portrait's background at Burrolandia, in Otumba, Mexico, on December 5, 2025.

A donkey is pulled towards the starting line of the donkey race in the annual Donkey Fair at Otumba, Mexico, on May 1st, 2026.

A newborn donkey lies inside a stroller, during the costumes contest of the Donkey Fair in Otumba, Mexico State, on May 1st, 2026. After being extremely stressed and trying to get out, this donkey suddenly hung his head, exhausted.

Male donkeys take their morning sun and dust bath, outside of the Burrolandia stables, in Otumba, Mexico State, on January 4th, 2023. Every day, around 7 AM, the 96 donkeys that live in the Burrolandia sanctuary go out from their resting places to eat, play and walk around, while the stables are cleaned.

Eduardo Romo and Dulce María take a selfie with one of the male donkeys in Burrolandia, on May 1st 2026. Even though visitors decreased during the pandemic, the sanctuary is getting back to its normal weekend dynamic.

Burrolandia sanctuary, Otumba, Mexico State, Mexico. December 6, 2024. German Flores drives his donkey VW, at the entrance of the sanctuary. On his legs, one of his rescued dogs, Pulgas, pretends to drive.

Coco holds a carrot and walks next to German´s car, at Burrolandia Sanctuary, on December 6, 2024.

December 17, 2022. Michelle Hernández takes care of Campeon. This donkey was rescued by German from the slaughterhouse. His previous owner took him there after losing the Annual Donkey Fair contest. Different emergencies need to be faced at Burrolandia frequently: stones can get stuck in their hoofs, they bite cactus and get hurt, or they make wounds to each other while playing or fighting. Also, some donkeys require rehabilitation treatments. Veterinary students like Michelle, from the Hidalgo Autonomous University, help with social service to provide medical care for the animals.

Burrolandia sanctuary, Otumba, Mexico State, Mexico. May 9, 2026. Jorge Barrera feeds Chaneque with his mouth while visiting the Burrolandia sanctuary.

Kyani rolls aroun on the ground while Paulina and Bon bon pass by, on November 25, 2022, at Burrolandia Sanctuary.

A waitress pets the donkey Tribilin and talks to German Flores, founder of the Burrolandia sanctuary, at a downtown restaurant, in Mexico City, on December 20, 2022. Burrolandia is open to the public, so people can visit, feed and pet almost one hundred donkeys in Otumba, Mexico State.

Toribia walks next to German Flores after her rescue in Mexico State, Mexico, on December 6, 2024. Her owner was no longer able to take care of Toribia, so she decided to send her to live to Burrolandia.

July 22, 2023. Donkey's eye, at Burrolandia Sanctuary.

German carries a young donkey at his sanctuary, on December 6, 2024.

A customized VW waits in line before leaving for the inauguration parade of the Donkey Fair, on May 1, 2025. German has customized several cars as donkeys in his effort to show the audience they can perform races without using the animals.