Nepali princess adopts rescued donkey

Princess Ketaki Chester, a long standing animal lover, on July 1o welcomed a rescued donkey into her home. Seti has now fully recovered and loves her new home and playmates, the princess' two dogs.

Months after the brick donkeys left for Western Nepal we continue to find abandoned equines living the life of scavengers. On July 10, CAT volunteer Reshma Khaet informed us about a malnourished white donkey lost in Kalanki area.

Vets Sudeep and Surendra together with Krishna located the donkey, and after a quick medical screening realised it quickly needed to be removed from the street. Although the donkey was not injured, it was extremely weak, with dehydration and malnourishment.

While searching for a suitable place, Princess Ketaki Chester came forward. The Chester family has a suitable compound, with shelter facilities and grazing space.

Former scavengers find a place of their own

Maneka and Sanu today moved to their new home in Jawalakhel. The mother and foal will be fostered by the family Calder from UK. Especially 8-year old Ben was very excited to see them: 'I waited for them for three weeks. We first had to build a home and a fence for the donkeys, and get food for them. I think they will like it here', he said.

Maneka and Sanu (now renamed as Sarah) were rescued from a busy Bhaktapur intersection on July 6. Maneka was abandoned by her owner because she was lame and pregnant. She turned into a scavenger, roaming garbage heaps, and gave birth to a foal on the streets.

Mother and child quickly recovered at our Chobar shelter. When Rebecca Calder heard about the donkey foster programme she immediately came to have a look. 'We chose Maneka and her foal because we have a huge garden and felt that the two should stay together', she says.

We trust mum and foal will enjoy their new premises!

Animal Nepal rescues nine surviving Khopasi donkeys

In a grave case of animal abuse, an estimated 55 working donkeys died due to mismanagement in Khopasi, Kavre district. Animal Nepal rescued the surviving donkeys. The donkeys for now are kept at Chobar Animal Sanctuary and will be shifted to our new Donkey Sanctuary at Godavari after Dasain.

Animal Nepal unearthed the mass grave in Khopasi earlier this week. The team, consisting of Dr Sudeep Koirala and Surendra Basyal, found nine donkeys huddled together in a small makeshift bamboo shelter, covered with a simple plastic sheet.

The deaths are caused by multiple causes resulting mostly from infected wounds and allergic pruritis as well as malnutrition and unsuitable climate and shelter.

Says Pramada Shah, Volunteer Director at Animal Nepal: ‘The death of some 55 donkeys at Khopasi stands as an example of the irresponsible attitude of equine owners in our country. The animals have died a slow and painful death. The suffering of these donkeys and countless others goes unreported and no one seems to care.’

Sadly one of the rescued donkeys died at our shelter. The others are slowly recovering.

Watch a photo album of the rescuers in action at

http://web.me.com/studiosphoenix/Animal_Nepal_Photo_Gallery/Animal_Nepal_Photo_Essays/Pages/Donkey_Rescue_Sept_09_Album.html