Fourteen donkeys, originating from Gaza, Israel, and Egypt have been collected by the Les Poilus du Blé Association in the city of Wavre in the Walloon Brabant province. Saved from international animal trafficking, these animals will be cared for and monitored before being put up for adoption.
These donkeys are part of nearly 300 animals that have recently been saved from international trafficking and will be sent to reception centres in Belgium and France. If not for the rescue, these donkeys would have otherwise met “certain death in excruciating suffering," Sandrine Niclaus, president of Poilus du Blé, told RTBF.
“There is a real international traffic primarily destined towards the Chinese market. They kill them for their meat, their skin, but also other parts for aphrodisiac products,” she said.
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According to the association, some of the animals received in Belgium show signs of mistreatment. “There is one who is blind, another who has wounds on his legs. This one is very thin, he was all alone in the back of the truck. We are going to closely observe him over the next few days.”
The end goal of transferring the donkeys to Belgium is to find the animals an adoptive family. Donkeys are always adapted in pairs for their own well-being and companionship. Niclaus and her team spend time with them to better understand their temperament and advise families with a view to adoption. First and foremost, the animals are looked after following years of potential neglect.
