@ppcheti
Pity the poor Lamu donkey, a symbol of the ancient Swahili town and vital for residents' livelihoods.
They are overworked, their owners don't allow them enough time to rest, mate and reproduce.
Donkey owners are on the spot for mistreatment; surveys indicate as many as 50 per cent of donkeys are mistreated.
Speaking on Tuesday, Lamu Livestock director Jamila Mitsanze said the last thing on the mind of an exhausted donkey is sex.
She said Lamu residents still don't respect and observe the rights of donkeys.
Mitsanze said since donkeys form an integral part of ancient Lamu, infringing on their rights is infringing on the culture and heritage of Lamu.
The old town was listed in 2001 by Unesco as a World Heritage Site owing to its well-preserved culture and heritage spanning decades. The only permitted means of transport is, donkeys, shanks mare and emergency vehicles. Yet banned boda bodas intrude.
The donkeys of Lamu are amongst the major reasons tourists flock to the region from around the globe to witness their unique presence.
“At this rate donkeys cannot mate and that means they can’t reproduce. This eventually means the donkey population here might drop in the next few years unless we change how we handle these animals.
"Let us strive to observe the rights of donkeys which includes feeding them and allowing them to rest,” Mitsanze said..
The Lamu Donkey Sanctuary Clinic veterinary officer and team leader Obadiah Sing’oei reminded donkey owners to observe the five major donkey freedoms:
They are freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress.
He said donkey owners still mistreat their animals despite rigorous campaigns to deter abuse.
Obadiah said the number of donkeys admitted at the sanctuary from mistreatment, especially by caning and overloading, has risen sharply in the last few months.
“Donkeys in Lamu are still suffering a great deal. People need to find ways to communicate with their animals and understand their needs. A healthy donkey will definitely take care of its owners,” he said.
Lamu county veterinary officer Felix Rachuonyo urged residents to make use of the donkey sanctuary in the island and ensure their animals are rushed in for both treatment and routine checkups to keep them healthy and useful.
The facility is free.
It provides both inpatient and outpatient services, just like a normal hospital.
Residents have called for more such clinics across the islands to ensure donkeys are catered for.
The Lamu donkey sanctuary is the only facility of its kind and is located on Lamu island.
The location makes hard for donkey owners from far-flung islands in the archipelago to access its services. It takes days to ferry the animals by boat across the Indian Ocean.
Residents want a donkey clinic in Faza town in Lamu East.
(Edited by V. Graham)
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”