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All Caribbean Netherlands Bonaire Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire

Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire

A sanctuary for sickly, stray, or wounded donkeys.

Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

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Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire   tomatochild on Flickr
Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire   tomatochild on Flickr
Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire   alphazuluromeo / Atlas Obscura User
Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire   Roban Kramer on Flickr
Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire   Roban Kramer on Flickr
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  arc459
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About

While the Caribbean Netherlands island of Bonaire is known for its fantastic diving, inland from the more popular coastal attractions is an adorable sanctuary for an animal that doesn't often get the love it deserves. The Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire is a protected area where the island's burros can live in peace.

The sanctuary was established in 1993 by Dutch couple Marina Melis and Ed Koopman. The pair built a number of facilities by hand including a windmill, stables, and a gift shop to create a self-sufficient environment where their asses could relax. Donkeys came to the island with European settlers and now it harbors a relatively healthy population of wild burros. The sanctuary seeks out sickly, stray, or wounded donkeys wandering the island and brings them back to their compound, where the animals can be cared for and nursed back to health. At any given time the sanctuary is home to around 400 donkeys, many literally chomping at the bit to get better. 

Visitors and donkey fans are welcome at the sanctuary. Carrots are available in the gift shop to feed the hundreds of hungry donkeys, along with donkey milk soaps, lotions, and other fun Bonaire gifts and souvenirs. The fenced area in front of the sanctuary has animals currently being rehabilitated, as well as foals and mums. You can feed the hungry animals, but with hundreds of the beasts swarming around, it might get a little hairy quickly.

Donkeys are usually seen as slow, lumbering pack animals. It's nice to know that even they have their own island getaway.  

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Donkeys Animals Sanctuaries

Know Before You Go

Directions From the airfield, follow the coastal road in a southerly direction. Take the left-hand turn direction Sorobon on the Kaya Ir. R. Statius van Eps. You will find the entrance to Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire just 2 kilometers further on your left-hand side.

Community Contributors

Added By

alphazuluromeo

Edited By

pikapika, EricGrundhauser, arc459

  • pikapika
  • EricGrundhauser
  • arc459

Published

July 1, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/news/fresh-funds-donkey-sanctuary-bonaire-founders-offer-animals-better-life
  • http://www.tourismbonaire.com/sightseeing/donkey-sanctuary-bonaire
Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire
Kaya IR. Randolph Statius van Eps Kralendijk
Bonaire
Caribbean Netherlands
12.107494, -68.26064
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Bonaire Botanical Garden

Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

miles away

Klein Curaçao

Willemstad, Curaçao

miles away

Cathedral of Thorns

Willemstad, Curaçao

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bonaire

Bonaire

Caribbean Netherlands

Places 2

Nearby Places

Bonaire Botanical Garden

Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

miles away

Klein Curaçao

Willemstad, Curaçao

miles away

Cathedral of Thorns

Willemstad, Curaçao

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bonaire

Bonaire

Caribbean Netherlands

Places 2

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