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

Scavenger donkey rescued with foal

Last Monday AN rescued donkey Maneka with her baby foal Sanu from Bhaktapur. After the brick season finished in May, Maneka was left behind by a heartless owner. By this time she was lame and pregnant. Maneka most probably gave birth to Sanu on a busy intersection in the heart of Bhaktapur.

Maneka is one of the discarded donkeys that live as scavengers on the streets of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts. They were brought from Nepalgunj in Western Nepal to work in brick kilns but abandoned after they were considered useless. The donkeys are forced to rummage through garbage heaps for food and create problems for traffic. Many abandoned donkeys are in fact pregnant females, and are forced to give birth on the street - without nutritious food, medical care or shelter.

Our staff Drs Sudeep and Surendra, together with Krishna Singh, acquired official permission from the police to take the donkeys to our temporary donkey shelter in Chobar. Local youth objected against the move, but AN managed to convince them by explaining that the donkeys won’t be able to survive on the busy streets of Bhaktapur much longer.

Maneka and her foal Sanu are now provided with much TLC, fluids, food and shelter at our temporary sanctuary. After many weeks of neglect and extreme stress, they can finally relax and recover their energy.

Miracle baby

Miracles do happen. Otherwise, how to explain this story?

Flora was rescued from a brick kiln on a hot day in May. She was malnourished and her hips were covered in bruises from overloading. Flora's hoofs had grown so long, they actually pointed upwards. Flora found a perfect home at the Marston's, a British family that has lived in Nepal since the 60s. Here she shares a lovely garden with five rescued dogs and a flock of ducks, recovered from the butcher's. One of the first things Flora did was walk around the house, and roll on her back in the garden. She must have felt she had arrived in heaven.

A month after her arrival, Robin and Wendy noticed a swelling in Flora's lower stomach. They called the vet, who adviced a drug against fluid retention. A few hours later the vet arrived, felt around, and pulled out.....two feet! Three people rushed to help to pull out what everyone thought had to be a dead fetus. But as soon as the fowl fell on the ground it started moving. Ten minutes later it stood on its four legs. Puja was born.

Puja is a healthy and curious foal, a true heart breaker, who enjoys making friends with dogs, ducks and people. Her mum, Flora, is a caring and proud mum.

At Animal Nepal we feel greatly encouraged by stories such as these. This story shows the resilience of abused working animals, when given a new leash of life. It shows that with a dosis of TLC, nutritious food and supportive medicines, donkeys like Flora, after a life of neglect and abuse, make great pets. It shows that despite the many challenges we face we can make a difference in the lives of working donkeys, starting with Flora and Puja.

Blind donkey leads 5-star retired life

Lucia, a blind donkey, until recently all day stood motionless in the hot sun, waiting for her owner to return. She had gotten blind a year ago, due to malnutrition and untreated eye infections. Since then she was unable to carry bricks and was left to fend for herself.

Today she lives a 5-star retired life, featuring a large meadow, a comfortable stable, nutrituous food, daily brushing, and lots of favourite snacks: carrots.

Lucia was adopted by hotel manager Kit Spencer and his wife Maura. They provide her with lots of TLC, to which the donkey reacts very well.

Lucia is one of the countless working donkeys that became handicapt due to negligence and overwork. Some go blind or break a limb, others develop tetanus, colic, pneunomia, or simply die from exhaustion.

We congratulate the Summit Trekking with its new addition and hope many trekking companies will follow the company's example. Rehabilitated donkeys are excellent carriers for small loads and children during easy treks. They make good pets and -as long as they don't feel bored- are loyal and fun-loving companions.

White Beauty is pregnant!

White Beauty, the emaciated donkey that we rescued from Manakana brick kiln found a loving home at the Happy Children's Trust in Godavari. Managed by Gabi, a German animal lover, the children's home has already adopted four stray dogs and five 'brick horses and donkeys'.

The children, when seeing the sad looking newcomer, must have seen lots of potential, as they named her White Beauty. At first, she needed intense care. Apart from being malnourished and being covered in sores, White Beauty suffering additional injuries after being attacked by a dog.

Her luck changed around only a month ago when it was discovered that she was pregnant!

We pray that White Beauty will give birth to a healthy fowl!

On the picture: Gabi with Juliet (left), rescued in 2008, and White Beauty.