Bridging Lanka - Mannar Donkey Clinic Report - December 2021
December Disaster
Many districts including Mannar were drowned by floods and this spread to the DCEC. All the pathways to our centre was flooded our daily work was affected. There were only small spaces that were not affected so we moved our donkeys into these cramped spaces. Unfortunately, due to lack of space there were more frequent fights among the donkeys.
The donkeys also suffered from cold, mosquitoes and limited food as much of our CO3 grass pastures were destroyed by the waters. It was difficult to even give treatment to the rescued donkeys. The parts of the compound attractive to tourists, like the pond and BBQ sites, were also ruined by dirty water.
Our organic vegetable cultivation also went under water. After three weeks the water level failed to diminish, leaving disaster in its path. We had to find urgent solutions to these problems such as lighting fires to induce smoke, protecting the donkeys from the thick swarms of mosquitoes. Immediately we restarted cultivating CO3 grass and relocated the donkeys to a place named Anaipanthi. The DCEC staff also rolled up their sleeves to help hundreds of families displaced by the floods, and also to use heavy machinery for drainage.
An Officer and a Gentle Man – Admission no. 304
Bandara is a soldier from Tharapuram camp. He is humble, treats us kindly and is a big supporter of our donkey rescue service. Often he informs us of injured donkeys. Recently Bandara noticed a donkey foal with a bleeding leg where its hoof had been removed. Its mother was nowhere to be found. The poor foal couldn’t even stand, let alone walk or run. It had hobbled to the camp on three legs.
Bandara felt great pity and tried to administer some first aid but because of the severity of the foal’s suffering, it didn’t allow him to come near. Bandara notified our donkey clinic. While waiting, he fed the foal some milk which it desperately lapped up. Our rescue team soon arrived to see four other soldiers surrounding the foal and feeling compassion toward it.
Our vet was on standby at the clinic to administer treatment to the foal. The wound site was cleaned with hydrogen peroxide followed by antiseptics and anti-parasitic applications. Our staff fell in love with the orphaned foal and gave it special care. Day by day the wound is recovering slowly. Bandara keeps in touch with us regularly to check on the foal’s progress. Once the foal is fully recovered we intend to return this gorgeous animal to Bandara.
Another Life saved - Admission No 306
Harichanthiran from Thoddaveli is an extreme animal lover! He is a cattle breeder and makes sure any street animals have plenty of water and some food each day. Donkeys make a bee-line to his place at the exact same time each day to avail themselves of his hospitality. One day on his way to work, in a split second, Harichanthiran noticed one of his familiar donkeys get hit by a truck. The donkey seemed to escape ok so he didn’t stop. In the evening back at home and relaxing Harichanthiran noticed that the particular donkey failed to come to his place as usual. The memory of the accident started to plague him. He drank a cup of tea and then went in search of the donkey. He found the donkey collapsed under a tree. Its leg was badly injured.
Harichanthiran got our number off one of the donkey clinic posters and rang us. To speed up matters he solicited the help of another to help him carry the donkey from the forest to the road. The poor animal was gingerly loaded into our rescue vehicle and taken to the clinic. Our vet administered the appropriate medicines. Every day the same treatment regimen was given. At the end of the month the donkey, fully recovered, was released.
