Friday, May 15, 2009

Donkey Myth: There is Great Demand for Donkeys

I've had many suggestions to have the donkeys adopted, and that the resorts are eager to protected as a tourist attraction.

I explored both. I couldn't find anyone to adopt a donkey, except for human consumption. There may be a couple people out there who would adopt one, but there are at least 200 donkeys up for adoption.

**update August 2009 - now that we know most donkeys are currently fenced in, we are dealing some who could be claimed for adoption by worthy individuals with a way to get them, transport them, and care for them. **

Maintaining pasture land for a donkey is costly. A donkey will completely eat a small pasture and then need to be fed. Captive donkeys also need vet care. They need their hooves trimmed; roaming around on lava, nature provides that service. Individuals with those resources might more likely spend it to raise a calf or lamb. Or a pig or goat.

The resorts may realize these are not Kona Nightingales, hence they don't have a storied history. The only time, so far, a resort has participated in donkey relocation efforts was when the donkeys were feeding on golf courses and pooping in the yards of very expensive homes.

Frankly, I don't believe that the one time a resort arranged to have donkeys "moved" or "adopted", that that is what happened with most of them. There is supposed to be a donkey preserve somewhere, with a fence, pasture, water, feed, and a caretaker. This was supposed to be a way for tourists to see them. And that was for a very small number of donkeys. Do you know of such a place open to the public on Hawai'i? Me neither.

Waikoloa Donkeys in the News

Andrew Cooper, Waikoloa, author of the spectacular Blog "A Darker View", has posted three times about the donkeys he sees on his frequent commutes to the top of Mauna Kea where he works for Keck. "A Darker View" Waikoloa Nightingale Donkeys