Israeli theme park deploys Internet-enabled donkeys in first known ass-based Wi-Fi initiative

If you like the idea of surfing the Web with the help of an Internet-enabled donkey, then be sure to plan a trip to the Village of Yore theme park in Israel.

There are plenty of people in the world today for whom a constant connection to the Internet is an absolute must….at all times….24/7.

If a situation arises where no cellular or Wi-Fi connection is available, these people can rapidly dissolve into grouchy, short-tempered monsters, unrecognizable from their usual happy-go-lucky selves. Within a short time of realizing that the Internet is unavailable, slight trembling of the hands may be observed, along with the formation of damp patches in the armpit region, regardless of whether the room or outdoor temperature is comfortably cool.

In most cases, in this increasingly wired world, such people are fine. These days, Wi-Fi is offered in so many places, including cafes, hotels, airports, shops and subways.

Even visitors to the Kfar Kedem (Village of Yore) theme park in northern Israel needn’t worry (it’s on your upcoming travel itinerary, right?), for its forward-thinking owners have recently equipped some of its resident donkeys with Wi-Fi routers, creating what is thought to be the first ass-based Wi-Fi hotspot in the world.

Speaking to The Times of Israel about the new initiative, park owner Menachem Goldberg said he was keen to give visitors the chance to upload photos and post tweets about their experience at the Village of Yore in real time – while being carried around on one of the park’s donkeys.

“Our village has 30 donkeys, and we’ve equipped the first five with wireless routers that are attached to the donkey’s body,” Goldberg said. “In the future we’ll consider equipping all of the donkeys with the necessary apparatuses.”

Set in the hill country of Galilee, the park takes visitors back in time two thousand years, telling the story of the region, with locals playing the role of villagers from long ago.

Whether the Village of Yore’s donkey-hotspot idea leads to other animals around the world being utilized in a similar fashion remains to be seen.

[via engadget]