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Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Donkey Feeding
Bonaire Talk: Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Donkey Sanctuary: Donkey Feeding
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #219) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 2:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Many locals have been talking about ways to communicate to visitors the urgent need to stop the roadside feeding and photography of the donkeys.

Many of the donkeys have been "conditioned" to stay near the roads because people (mainly visitors) feed them.

This creates a real hazard for the donkeys...and for many people. Estimates vary, but some say a donkey is killed or maimed by vehicle collisions on a weekly basis.

Last summer, a friend was riding his motorcycle and saw some island visitors feeding donkeys by the side of the road. He slowed to 15 mph and moved to the other side of the road. Unfortunately a donkey "bolted" and ran right in front of him. The donkey had to be destroyed, the motorcyle had major damage, and my friend had to have ankle surgery in Europe. Excess speed is probably a contributor to many vehicle/donkey accidents, but it was not in this case.

Any suggestions on how to communicate to visitors that the best place to feed and photograph donkeys is the Donkey Sanctuary near the airport?

Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathalie Meyfarth (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 9:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Scott, Perhaps the government or Sanctuary could provide inexpensive leaflets to the car rental agencies to hand out, since most of the roadside feeding is done by visitors in rental cars.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathalie Meyfarth (BonaireTalker - Post #25) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 9:44 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Or, distribute laminated signs, with the international symbol for no donkey feeding and a brief explanation, for the agencies to post at their windows.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #893) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 10:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Is there an international symbol for no donkey feeding??

Since everyone comes down here by plane, and have to wait for their luggage anyway, a big sign in 4 languages near the conveyor belt would surely help. I had memorised all the leaflets and every commercial billboard by the time I got my suitcase :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathalie Meyfarth (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 4:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Is there an international symbol for no donkey feeding??

No, Marc ;-)
but perhaps an artistically talented Bonairean could come up with one.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1372) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 7:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The Bonaire Reporter this week says three donkeys were killed by cars last week, 'in most cases the cars were travelling at high speed' and there was dreadful damage to the cars as well as the donkeys. No comment on whether the drivers were island or visitors, or of injuries to car occupants, another consideration in this.

Also, it was said that the 'task force formed to resolve the problem' is supposed to report this week.

Hopefully a good solution can be found.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #222) on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 6:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the great ideas. I think I'll have some laminated signage created...guess I'll have to invent the "international no donkey feeding" image...any artistically capable people out there who would like to help?

Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By BEVERLY A FILLIO (BonaireTalker - Post #100) on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 9:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just noticed this posting site and see the last post is in 2003 Has this problem been solved Are the numbers in the road decreased. It does seem to me that a donkey is a good size and one should se it in the windeshield in plenty of time to stop... Maybe the speeders should be the ones rounded up and put in pens.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1888) on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 9:01 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wish it were that simple. Many times donkeys are chasing each other throught the bush and dart out on the roads and crash into cars without warning. Yes it seems there are a few less roaming the neighborhoods.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Babs (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7372) on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 1:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hmm, back in August 04, Marina was talking about having to round up all the donkeys by September 04 (at least in the more populous areas of the island)...I'm guessing that task was too huge for a few folks to do in a short time frame...any updates???

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1874) on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 1:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey Babs, I know there was a thread about the donkeys, they were not going to round them up and put them down in any event.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4618) on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 1:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I believe Marina now has over 300 donkeys in the Sanctuary/Safari Park....that's about a double-fold from last summer's numbers, if I am not mistaken. She and her crew have done a fabulous job of capturing, rescuing and saving donkeys from the wild and bodily harm (cars, humans, etc.). Our hats off to Marina and everyone who physically, emotionally and financially support her and her efforts. Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pauline Kayes (BonaireTalker - Post #51) on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 5:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Unfortunately, in spite of all the donkeys Marina has taken in, there was still a major accident just a week ago on the road to Rincon when, from what I have heard, a vehicle going too fast couldn't stop to avoid a donkey and swerved into the next lane and one woman was killed and three injured. The government called Marina and asked her to retrieve those donkeys close to the Rincon road. Marina told me that she had already removed 78 in that area and does not know where the new ones came from. I sure hope that the government is offering some help to support all of Marina's work, which makes Bonaire safer for donkeys and people.

 


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