MARES in Zimbabwe - Outreach Program Report April

During April, one of the MARES team, Barry travelled to three villages, where he attended to 56 donkeys with minor harness, eye and foot wounds (only two uplifted to the sanctuary) and handed out six harnesses to three people whose donkeys had to recover from harness injuries before receiving them.  The two donkeys in the sanctuary since the March workshop are recovering slowly and will be fully assessed by the volunteer vet.  He has earmarked a further 120 donkeys for new harnesses and 40 scotch carts to be refurbished. One of the donkeys he collected had been attacked by a hyena. Another donkey uplifted the same day had a severe infected ear. 

Another of the MARES team, David from Buhera attended two donkeys, one axed and with a fractured back leg and a donkey attacked by a hyena.  The axed donkey was kindly uplifted by Mutare SPCA. During April, 5 donkeys were admitted into David's hospital sanctuary, one with a hernia, one the owner erroneously cut the main vein on his donkey's back thinking it was a boil.  The team managed to stem the blood by applying pressure and ash until the district vet could arrive and stitch the donkey.  Two of the donkeys that arrived have been surrendered as they are old and blind.  The fifth donkey was also surrendered by the owner who could no longer afford to feed his donkey.  David joined SPANA on their workshop where he assisted (and learnt from) the vet team from SPANA.  He also went to two meetings where he educated more than 40 donkey owners on the importance of humane harnessing and donkey care.  He shall do a follow up with 30 harnesses and 15 scotch carts being done at the sanctuary with SPANA officials in attendance.