Donkeys spared despite population surge

Jul 20 2008

The Turks and Caicos is planning to donate about 100 wild donkeys to other Caribbean islands to control the local population.

An official with the Ministry of Health and Human Services says the government will not slaughter the animals despite erroneous press reports.

Royal Robinson said that the donkeys will be sent to Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic for agricultural purposes.

The official said donkeys previously have been airlifted to other islands after the local salt industry waned in the 1960s. Workers used donkeys to carry salt but later left them to run wild.

The government says the animals have caused accidents and are a nuisance to developers.