Police are hunting a knifeman who stabbed an ageing donkey previously used for taking children for rides in a “despicable” attack in south-east London.

Bimbo the donkey is one of only five animals surviving today which were used for the rides around Blackheath.

The animal – said to have carried children of stars including musician Jools Holland around the beauty spot – was retired from its duties when the business closed down in 2012.

But the 28-year-old donkey was found bloodied and with a three-inch knife wound on Friday evening by a volunteer who helps feed it at its home in the grounds of Grade II-listed Eltham Palace.

It was taken to a vets where it was treated for the injury to its stomach.

Bimbo’s owner Lorayne Ahmet, 57, said she feared the attack may have been a “sickening” gang initiation.

“It’s absolutely despicable, I don’t know how anyone could do something like this to a defenceless animal,” she said. “The donkeys are part of my family, and it feels like a personal attack on one of us.

“I don’t know what would drive anybody to ever do this. I think it must be some sort of sickening gang initiation.”

Mrs Ahmet’s father, Len Thorne, and his father before him Len Senior, had run the Blackheath donkey rides for more than a century between them.

After Mr Thorne’s death in 2012, Mrs Ahmet decided not to continue the family business but she continues to care for five surviving animals which were previously used for the rides.

And she said she believes Bimbo may have been saved by his protective layer of fat.

“Bimbo was lucky because if he hadn’t have been so fat then he could have been killed,” Mrs Ahmet said.

“If they had turned the knife upwards, his wounds would have been even more severe, and he could have died.

“Even though this has never happened before I think we need to protect the donkeys as much as we can.”

A fundraiser has been set up with a target of £2,500 to cover his vet bills, and Mrs Ahmet, a caterer, has said she has been “overwhelmed” by the support.

“Everyone loves all the donkeys, they have been part of the history of Blackheath for so long,” she said. “It’s incredible how much support we’ve received.”

A Met Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called at 8.07pm on Friday, 21 June to King John’s Walk SE9 after a woman reported that her donkey had suffered a stab injury to its stomach. There have been no arrests.

“The caller reported the incident to the RSPCA.”

An Eltham Palace spokeswoman said: “This very sad incident took place some way from Eltham Palace and is unrelated to the historic site; neither the fields nor the animals come under its ownership.”