When donkeys wear trousers

Is this a new race of donkeys? No, it is rather the passion of man for these strangely disguised animals, which will make children smile!  

Each summer, the donkeys in knickers of Ré island provide fun for children and adults alike, but how many of them know that this disguise has revived a truly venerable tradition?

In olden times, the animal helped in collection of kelp on the coasts, farm work, salt harvesting and transportation from one village to another. In this salty marshland country with its pullulating flies and mosquitoes, inhabitants were wont to protect their beasts from insect bites by means of suspendered pants manufactured with striped or checkered cloth.