A sanctuary for both people and animals
Many-pronged is Bridging Lanka’s ‘Mannar Donkey Management and Welfare Programme’, with a major component being the Donkey Clinic & Sanctuary where 15 animals have already found shelter and solace.
“Most of the donkeys in the urban areas are ill or injured, some even crippled, having serious injuries such as broken legs and festering sores due to the human-donkey conflict. Sometimes these donkeys also starve and are forced to feed on polythene, while some veterinarians are not too familiar on how to treat donkeys, as they are found only in Mannar and Kalpitiya,” says Kelvin.
The clinic is integral to animal welfare, points out Jeremy, explaining that the protection of these animals needs to be connected to economics.
This is why the Donkey Clinic and Sanctuary is sprawled across two acres in the impoverished village of Thailankudiyiruppu and the aim is to ease the unemployment challenges faced by the widows there.
It is also a tiny ‘reconciliation’ model, with the land on which it has been set up having belonged to a Muslim, while the workers are Catholics, Hindus and Muslims.
The new use of donkeys that Bridging Lanka is exploring includes tourism promotion through donkey- specific tours.
Jeremy had got thinking on these lines when in 2009 he visited Mannar after a ‘Business for Peace Conference’ held in Colombo which was followed by a visit to the south by some participants and to Mannar by others. With the words of the Mannar Chamber of Commerce Chairman, “No one comes to Mannar”, ringing in his ears, in 2010 Jeremy decided to gently guide some of his friends from Australia to this starkly beautiful area.
The other donkey-focused efforts include: Donkey Feeding Stations – Collection of throw-away vegetables from vendors and distribution among households which have agreed to help out. While this feeding programme draws the donkeys away from the town centre where there is conflict with humans, the families which provide food and water are able to tame and befriend the donkeys. Capacity-building of veterinary staff – With little being known about the treatment and care of donkeys, regular workshops and clinics are being conducted by veterinary surgeons from around the world for those in the Departments of Wildlife Conservation and Animal Production & Health and animal welfare agencies.