Bonaire, an Island just north of South America, is known for its beautiful reefs and spectacular Caribbean landscapes. But what you might not know about this municipality of the Netherlands is that it’s also overrun with donkeys brought over by the Spanish in the 1500s to help with the salt trade. Once technology improved and they were no longer needed, the donkeys were set free to roam the island…but as you can imagine, it’s not easy to live in a harsh Caribbean climate if that’s not what you’re built for.
It might seem cute and quirky to have them greet you at your tour bus window.
And once you dive into the crystal-clear waters off the island’s shore, it’s easy to overlook the fact…
Luckily, for over 400 of them, though…
Koopman built every single structure at the shelter, and Melis is on-call 24/7 for emergency donkey rescues.
The goal is to offer medical care, food, water, and affection to all the donkeys of Bonaire.
While the cuties that they’ve already rescued are clearly super content with their new lives…
Some of the donkeys at the sanctuary endured unspeakable cruelties in their past lives…
Such as being tethered to poles with sharp metal wires, getting their ears cut off, or even being burned.
So knowing that at least 400 of these guys are safe and sound is only a little bit of a relief.
The people at Bonaire Donkey Sanctuary are doing wonderful things for these suffering animals…
But there is only so much a small group of Good Samaritans can do for so many animals in need.
So remember to be aware of your surroundings next time you take a trip to Bonaire!
And don’t forget to visit the happy donkeys lucky enough to live their lives with some good humans.
(via Huffington Post)
You can donate to help this sanctuary continue to thrive by visiting them online, and be sure to spread the word about this wonderful cause!
