Mannar Donkey Welfare & Management Report - May 2021
Please see following a recount from Bridging Lanka on the activity at the Donkey Clinic and Education Centre (DCEC) during May.
A Ditch in Time Saves Lives – Admission Number 238
On his way to work one day, Rojan, the Bridging Lanka manager spots a foal with a rope around its neck. We suspect the kids in the neighbourhood in one of their dares, had done this. The DCEC duo Kathafi and Ainkaran were summoned but on arrival couldn’t spot the mother and foal who had wandered off. While looking for the donkeys, double trouble erupts -the truck slips into a ditch! It took a while to get the vehicle out of the ditch and fortuitously just as they had done this, the mother and foal emerged. The foal is caught without much resistance, the rope cut and a quick check to ensure there were no other injuries. Foal and mother are released to wander the streets of Mannar unhindered.
Foster Families - Admission Number: 239
Word spreads amongst the donkeys that the Pallimunai army camp has an open house policy for edible food scraps! The soldiers have become very fond of the donkeys and take care of their welfare. The donkeys in return have started to trust the army officers. This month, a foal with its mother takes refuge at the camp and Piyantha, one of the officers notices a small wound on the foal’s leg. The DCEC is contacted. On arrival, the foal approaches our staff of its own accord, making the examination much quicker. The mother and foal are taken to the Clinic for treatment and the wound is now healing well. While departing the army camp, two of the army officers make an appeal that once the wound is healed that the mother and foal be returned to their camp. A touching ending and bright beginnings of the donkeys having a foster family!
Kicking, Fighting and Braying - Admission Number: 240
Dinesh, a Mannar local is aghast seeing a donkey near Mannar stadium with a gaping wound spreading from its head to the greater part of its neck. The blood red wound was seeping and to ensure the donkey didn’t saunter off, Dinesh sent location coordinates to the rescue crew. Ainkaran enlisted the help of another local and Dinesh to catch the donkey. As these two locals were inexperienced catching a wild donkey, they endured a kick or two in the process! After a struggle, the donkey was caught and was lifted into the vehicle by all three of them. This donkey was a heavyweight! The wound is being treated and we will only be releasing the donkey back into the environment once the wound is healed.
Painful Ties - Admission Number: 241
Alankaro, a regular informant of donkey mishaps calls us to report a donkey limping in the Thalvupadu area with a strip of thanguse (strong plastic rope) tied around its leg. Despite this handicap, the donkey bolts upon seeing our staff trying to catch it. After a few attempts, the donkey is caught, loaded into the truck and taken to the Clinic. The rope had cut deep into its flesh but fortunately not to the bone. The donkey is being treated at the Clinic and will be released upon recovery.
The Rippling Effects of Plastic Waste - Admission Number: 242
The municipality has allotted an area in Thailankudiyiruppu as a garbage tip, an unfortunate coincidence that the DCEC is also located in this village. This means the collection of garbage from the surrounding villages of Karisal, Puthukkudiyiruppu and Olaithoduwai make their way here. An overflow of plastic gets dumped with Covid disposable masks the newest pollutant. Alas the donkeys sniff the dump as a food source! Najath, a local has his residence close to this tip and another informant for donkey rescues. This time, it’s a donkey with a plastic bottle shoed to its foot. The donkey then gallops away but Najath waits until the donkey returns. The staff finally catch the donkey, remove the plastic entrapment and release the donkey after a full examination.
