Read more St. Petersburg zoo stories on Newserhttp://www.newser.com/taggrid/27529/st-petersburg-zoo.htmlhttp://img1-cdn.newser.com/images/newser-black250x40.gifhttp://www.newser.com/2012 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorFri, 25 May 2012 11:57:05 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/22429/donkey-retires-from-ballet.htmlNick McMaster<img src='http://img2-cdn.newser.com/getimage.aspx?mediaid=87147&width=45&height=45&crop=Y&updateddate=20110401015921' border='0' />A veteran Russian artiste is headed for retirement today: Monika, a 21-year-old female donkey. She has performed for 19 years as the trusty steed of Sancho Panza in the Mariinsky ballet's production of Don Quixote. "She loves to perform and she loves applause," said Tatyana Solomatina of the St. Petersburg...A donkey is seen in this undated file photo.http://www.newser.com/story/22429/donkey-retires-from-ballet.htmlMon, 24 Mar 2008 17:54:22 CDT