Update: Where Did All the Donkeys Go?

If you live here, you know, we have had a good amount of rain. This has allowed the Waikoloa Nightingale donkeys to spread out for green grasses and water. (Donkeys get a lot of water from the young grasses.) This has relieved pressure on the donkeys and they are much less of a problem on Waikoloa Road and less of an annoyance in the neighborhoods.

But they are still here, so stay alert. While the Hawaii Police Department reports no calls on donkey sightings on Waikoloa Road in May (yea!), there was a reliable anecdotal report from a tourist that they avoided a donkey right on the road a few days ago.

They are still around the Village but according to my Waikoloa reporters, they are putting less pressure on the neighborhoods. South Kohala Community Policing Officer Denise Smith-Erickson has seen one in a Waikoloa front yard, and was quite amazed. She'd heard a lot about them, but that was her first sighting, right there!

Donkeys in the VIDEO News!

Look at this great video news story by Dave Corrigan of Big Island Video News. Thoughtful interviews with Keith Dane, HSUS Equine Director, and Dr. Brady Bergin of Waimea about hope for our donkeys. Big Island Video News covers many Kohala topics and is found at http://www.bigislandvideonews.com and also has regular showings on Na Leo o Hawaii public access television. Bookmark it!

VIDEO: Waikoloa donkeys discussed at Hawaii Horse Expo

Today's North Hawaii News has an excellent article on last Saturday's community meeting with Waikoloa Village Association, United States Humane Society, and Dr. Brady Bergin. On news stands now. Check out the donkey dos and donkey don'ts.

Community Meeting on Donkeys a Great Success!

The Donkey Round Table at the WVA Conference room was well attended. We ran out of chairs! On a Saturday night! I'll count chairs to see how many were in attendance, and add 15.

The audience represented every view point about donkeys I can imagine exists. That was a very good thing.

A large number of homeowners directly affected by donkeys on their properties were also involved and great participants.

I am very happy to report:

The WVA will very likely support paying for water to keep a large number of donkeys from descending into the Village while it continues its efforts to capture and re-home the ones currently around the village. They may also help defray costs of medicines used to neuter male donkeys that are re-homed, so we are not just moving the problem around. These costs are very moderate, a tiny fraction of the money the WVA had to spend on one fence to keep donkeys off the golf course. There were pros and cons expressed on this; I think most people are in agreement with this general plan.

Please mention your support for these plans to a WVA Board Member. This will help ensure a positive outcome.  You can reach the WVA Board Members by phone or by email to wvaadmin2@waikoloa.org and asking it to be forwarded to all or certain Board Members.

Dr. Brady Bergin is willing to perform services as needed on a volunteer basis, and has other vets lined up to also pitch in. The Humane Society of the United States (USHS) can also send in a team, if we need one.

Both Dr. Bergin and the HSUS are very optimistic about mid and long term plans to manage the herds at a sustainable level. Keith Dane, their National Equine Director stepped up to the plate with many ideas they will explore. HSUS have excellent contacts and resources to bring to help in the effort of humanely keep the donkey population from growing so fast. They are actively working on these very issues today, making a technical presentation at the Horse Expo in Waikoloa today, Sunday, to gain interest and support for the ideas they have.

The time will come when more will be needed of us, but nothing we can't do. Right now, just be grateful! WVA members, please let the Board know of your support.

Donkeys in Your Yard? Donkeys in the Road, Too. Please Don't Provide Water!

Watering donkeys near your property draws more donkeys around the Village and making that many more of them down the hill, where there is no fencing. That donkey warning sign on Waikoloa Rd, just makai of Paniolo is there because donkeys have been sighted in that area for some time. They are down around the Fire Department, too.

Plus providing water to them near your yard is keeping them away from the safe capture point where donkeys are captured and removed from the Village. That is the solution. Let it work.

Please see previous posts on the subject of "water".

Please, pass this word around: don't water the donkeys. The donkeys don't need it and while it might keep them out areas of your yard, it has delayed the WVA's relocation efforts.

Donkeys are Healthy!

Great News: a Malama Waikoloa Nightingales member has seen the donkeys captured by the WVA in their new home and they look great! They like it there, too. Right now their water worries are over.

Donkey Relocation Update

Jim Whillock has provided an update to Waikoloa Village Association (WVA) members on the donkeys the WVA is capturing and relocating in order to keep them out of people's yards. Members of Malama Waikoloa Nightingales have been able to verify the methods of trapping and movement are humane, and that the place the donkeys are being taken is a good place. This will help reduce the frequency of donkeys on lower Waikoloa Road.

Donkey Water Needs

For the first time in several years, I do think the donkeys are having a hard time finding good water. It is dry from the top to the bottom of Waikoloa Road. Nevertheless, DON'T WATER THE DONKEYS IN YOUR YARD OR NEAR YOUR PROPERTY! It just draws them into the Village. The paucity of water also limits new fountain grass for grazing.

Long term plans, have to factor in the water situation as well as the acreage to determine about how many donkeys the area can support, and keep them healthy.

Answer to earlier trivia question: how much does a donkey weigh? My best guestimate, for the "mid size" Waikoloa donkey is 400-500 pounds. The amount of water consumption per donkey can be based on weight, times number of donkeys. Then we need estimates of how much water is "out there".

Donkey Fencing

I was able to get a good look at the extensive fencing done by the WVA to keep donkeys off the golf course. The manager says it is working. In my daytime observation, it is definitely keeping goats out, there were dozens of them running up and down outside the fence. The fence is on the far side of the course in the photo below, not really visible in this photo.

The WVA has contracted with a business to capture donkeys by luring them to temporary corrals. Once the corral has captured donkeys, the corral must be moved, as donkeys are smart and won't go into that corral in the same place again! WVA plans to move donkeys somewhere and also to have the males gelded.

Persistent Donkey Myth: Donkeys are Dying for Lack of Water

It is very hard for our minds to wrap around the idea that the Waikoloa Nightingales don't need to be given water. Yes, they do need water, and sometimes it is harder for them to find. They should not be kept somewhere with no fresh water. According to THE PEACEFUL VALLEY DONKEY RESCUE, donkeys are so adapted to dry conditions that

Donkeys can tolerate water loss up to 30% of their body weight; they can replenish it in only 15 minutes of drinking.

Which brings us to the question of what does a donkey weigh? To determine that, we need to know, how tall is the donkey? Stay tuned for factoids.

Meanwhile, let's review:

• June 10 Blog – Donkey Myth: Donkeys Need More Water. 
• August 30 Post – Please Don't Water the Donkeys.
  

MWN is working on ways to help the donkeys for the long term.  Join us, we need you.

Please Donʻt Water the Donkeys

Several people have let me know they are providing water to the donkeys, or want to.

Please do not provide them water. Honestly, they just don't need it. Providing water draws them closer to the Waikoloa streets and homes.

They are thriving, that is part of the problem! With less food and water, their fecundity would be reduced.

If they are coming in your yard to drink from your birdbath (at least two people are having this problem), I suggest you do not put water in your birdbath for a while. If you find the presence of donkeys in your yard undesirable, I recommend a strong fence, constructed within the guidelines of County laws and the Waikoloa Village Association covenants.

If you have the means to provide constantly-available water, food, and some shade for 3 dozen donkeys a short distance from town and roads, please let us know! That is one third of the solution to the problem of moving them. Another third is a place to put them, and I have a potential place for that. The final third, is moving them.

*STATUS* Donkey Update

Met with leading local vet and respected local rancher. Best approach is a round up by paniolo on horseback with dogs who are used for herding. Depending on who we can find to do the job (no volunteers yet) it may take two attempts over a period of time. The donkeys may need to be tempted into and then held briefly in a holding station, a corral, until they can be moved. They will be fed and watered, if so.

**note: later determined that round up is not feasible, just leading to corral with food and water.)**

**note: still later learned that a corral with a trail of special bait may be all that is needed to attract donkeys to a particular area.

We've found where we can put them and where we can't. (Have not mapped it yet.)

There is ample natural food and water mauka to support these donkeys that escaped.

Have spoken with Mayor's Office, Public Works, DLNR, Fire, Police, Humane Society, the vet, several ranchers, potential volunteer groups. Have considered several alternatives.

Most feasible solution is moving donkeys (and it's best for the donkeys.)

Donkey Myth: They Need More Water

Many people think the fenced donkeys above the village are provided water. They are not. And that's okay.

There is water for donkeys all the way from here up to the Mamalahoa Highway. There are streams and oases.

Donkeys get most of their water from the grasses they eat, even the dried ones. Their digestive systems are especially good at extracting nutrition and water from what looks to us like poor feed.

More water would be good, though, as those streams and oases are pretty dried up. When water is available they will drink gallons and gallons at a time. Remember their native habitat is desert.

But providing water for them at the outskirts of your property will simply lead them to make a nice donkey path to your property and from there, your neighborhood. Let's not do that.