Donkeys

The former backbone of island transport

Observe the ass, for instance: his character is about perfect, he is the choicest spirit among all the humbler animals, yet see what ridicule has brought him to. Instead of feeling complimented when we are called an ass, we are left in doubt.{j}

SEE ALSO: Part of The Fauna of St Helena.

End of an Era

From the 1990s until 2026 St Helena ran a Donkey Home; a place where donkeys that were no longer required for work could live out their days in peace and quiet. The males were castrated because this was never intended to be a permanent feature of St Helena{4}, so inevitably, in the end…

We are very sad to inform that Dolly, our last old jenny donkey at St Helena Donkey Home was put quietly to sleep by our vet Andy over the weekend. She had been struggling with on and off lameness and had recently lost a lot of weight over this winter. Assessing her mouth injury that she sustained at the weekend along with her other issues, Andy felt that it was time to let her go.

We would like to thank everyone past and present who has been involved in setting up the home, caring for, supporting with gifts of rugs or donations, bought donkey dung for their gardens, been on visits to clear the paddocks, groom the donkeys, bring them carrots, sold our merchandise - or even just by keeping an eye out for them when driving past. We will hugely miss our St Helenian ex-working donkeys, but know that they had relaxed and free retirements and were very loved.

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Read more in the article (below).

Here are a few pictures from the former Donkey Home in Blue Hill:

History

From the Records:

Prior to this goods were, presumably, carried by the enslaved. The Records for November 1715 report the presence of ‘12 Asses’.

Donkeys were also used to power the Ladder Hill Railway. 119 are known to have been imported in 1901, to provide extra load-carrying capacity because of the need to supply the Boer PoW camps.

Nobody knows exactly how many there were in their heyday (or should that be ‘hay day’?). The Records for December 1851 give a number of 400, and for April 1881 as 922. By April 1901 it was down to 774 but in April 1911 it was up to 1,149 and to 1,161 in September 1955, declining thereafter.

Donkeys show up in many of the earliest pictures of the island and continue to appear well into the 1970s. They were extensively used in the Flax Industry.

Donkeys did, however, cause a problem early in the 20th Century. Apparently the number of free-roaming stallions was causing a problem (particularly to the owners of mares!) and it was also felt that the breed could be improved by selecting only the best stallions and castrating the rest. The result was the ‘Stallion Donkeys Ordinance’ of 1904, requiring castration of any Stallion not selected for breeding by a Board of Inspectors. Around 250 Stallions were castrated with only 12 being certified for breeding. In The ‘Blue Book’ for 1905 Governor Gallwey reported that The ill feeling, which was so prevalent formerly, caused by neighbours’ stallion donkeys fighting and killing each other, no longer exists and mare donkeys, which were formerly chased by stallions all over the hill sides, now have the quiet time.

In The ‘Blue Book’ for 1927 we read Donkeys will never be displaced in any economic scheme in St Helena.

However, as cars began to take over, and with a growing awareness of ecology and the environment, free roaming donkeys were increasingly seen as a pest, and people were encouraged to keep their donkeys and other animals under control. The talk (right) was broadcast on Radio St Helena on 25th October 1976…

One feature of donkeys that has still not quite been perfected with motor vehicles is self-driving. Once a donkey knew its route people used to pack it up at home with goods for sale in town, despatch it in the morning unaccompanied with a shopping list, and some kind soul in town would unload it, sell the produce, buy the purchases and set it off back to home to arrive in the evening. Try doing that with a van!

Incidentally the word ‘donkey’ dates from the 18th Century. Prior to that the species was known as an ‘ass’.

If you try to please everybody, you’re going to lose your donkey.{m}

The Present Day

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There are still a few who prefer donkeys as their means of goods transport, and in country areas it is not yet unknown to meet someone leading a donkey laden with freshly cut vegetation on its way home{5}, but this is becoming increasingly rare.

From the 1990s until 2026 those donkeys that no longer worked were mostly kept in the ‍Casons‍ area, though some feral donkeys have elected to live in the almost appropriate area of Horse Pasture. The donkeys were generally friendly and approachable.

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Statistics issued in August 2015 show that the island’s donkey population had fallen from 415 in 1994 to just 37. However, this does not take into account wild donkeys living around the island. Some can be found at Blue Point (overlooking Speery Island), as seen in the photograph (right).

Donkeys are not supposed to wander around unmanaged, but…

We have been told that, if you are leading your donkey on the road after having too much to drink, you can be prosecuted for being drunk in charge of a donkey, though we cannot find any Ordinance in which this is set down.

Donkey Facts

• The climate on St Helena is not really suitable for donkeys. They prefer a dry climate. Despite this our donkeys regularly lived to more than 40 years old.

• An adult male donkey is called a ‘jack’, a female is a ‘jenny’ and a juvenile is a ‘foal’.

• Donkeys vary considerably in size, depending on breed and management. The height at the withers ranges from 7.3 hands (79cm) to 15.3 hands (160cm), and the weight from 80kg to 480kg.

• Donkeys have been the ‘helping hooves’ of humankind for thousands of years and are the original beasts of burden. They remain in that role today in many countries of the world and cope with a wider variety of terrains than horses.

• Donkeys’ reputation for stubbornness is due to their highly developed sense of self preservation; it is difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it sees as contrary to its own best interest or safety.

• Donkeys are highly intelligent animals with an incredible memory - they can recognise areas and other donkeys they were with up to 25 years before.

• Donkeys are not easily startled and have a keen sense of curiosity. They are often kept with horses due to the calming effect they have on nervous horses. If a donkey is introduced to a mare and foal, the foal will often turn to the donkey for support after it has left its mother.

• Donkeys originate from desert areas of the earth and do not cope well in rich pasture. They utilise 95% of what they eat and their digestive system can break down inedible vegetation and extract moisture from food very efficiently. As a result their manure is not a very good fertilizer for land.

• Donkeys don’t like the rain and, as their fur is not waterproof, being out in the rain for long periods can damage their health.

• Donkeys don’t like being kept on their own although a single donkey will live quite happily with goats.

• Donkeys in a herd will groom each other in the same way as do monkeys and chimps.

• Donkeys are used as guard animals for cattle, sheep and goats since they have a natural aversion to canines and will chase them away from a flock.

• There were 100,000 working donkeys in London at one time, including a milking herd.

• According to folklore, hair from the tail of a donkey can combat whooping cough or scorpion stings, and cutting the hair from the donkey’s cross and putting it in a bag around a child’s neck will prevent fits{6}.

• Donkeys can live for over 50 years.

• A donkey is stronger than a horse of the same size.

• There are about 41 million donkeys worldwide. China has the most with 11 million, followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia and Mexico.

More donkey information at The UK Donkey Sanctuary.

Expressions of impossibility: When hell freezes over ⋅ Twelfth of Never ⋅ When you can get blood from a stone ⋅ When donkeys fly

‘Why no horses?’

There used to be horses on St Helena. In 1757 The East India Company wrote: Horses are of infinite value and contribute much to the ease of the Inhabitants in this hilly place as well as for the convenience of the gentlemen that call here in shipping. They were the primary means of transport for the upper classes, until they were replaced by motor cars in the 1930s (the first car arrived in 1927). There were even horse races held on Deadwood Plain, starting in the 19th Century and continuing intermittently until the 1920s.

Our last horse?

Francis Plain, 1961-3

Horses are expensive to buy and maintain. There was even a ‘horse tax’ - in 1913 10s(£0.50). So the transport for ordinary people was the donkey.

There were twenty horses recorded in a 1970s animal census, but none remained by the mid 1990s (the last is thought to have died in 1994/95). The photograph (right) may be of the island’s last horse. It has been suggested that horses might be restored to St Helena to provide pony trekking for tourists.

World Donkey Day

World Donkey Day, on 8th May, is not formally celebrated on St Helena.

For more annual events see our page This Year.

Read More

Below: Article: End of an Era: St Helena Donkey Home closes after the passing of ‘Dolly Daydream’ Article: St Helena through the eyes of…a Donkey Home

Article: End of an Era: St Helena Donkey Home closes after the passing of ‘Dolly Daydream’

By Liam Yon, published in The Sentinel, 24th September 2016

St Helena has bid a fond farewell to the last of its retired working donkeys, marking the end of a cherished chapter at the island’s sanctuary at Frenches Gut in Blue Hill. The recent passing of Dolly - a white jenny donkey also known as ‘Dolly Daydream,’ believed to be in her late twenties or early thirties - signals the official closure of the St Helena Donkey Home. The sanctuary was originally established in July 2012 by former St Helena National Trust director, Jodie Mills, to provide a peaceful retirement for the island’s working donkeys. Over the years, the initiative was kept alive by numerous dedicated individuals, including Sharon and Charlotte Leask. In 2018, when expatriate founders left the island, Teeny Lucy took over the management of the home alongside a small committee. They signed an agreement with the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Directorate (ENRP) to continue housing the donkeys free of charge at Blue Hill, backed by support from Andy Timm and Darren Duncan.

Reflecting on the unique environment at Frenches Gut, Teeny noted that caring for the animals required constant adaptation.

It was never the best place for donkeys, as they originate from the North African Ass and do much better in dry, hot conditions with a low-protein diet of scrub rather than rich grass, Teeny explained. In spite of hoof issues and some metabolic liver problems over the years, the donkeys generally enjoyed the freedom, space, and company of other donkeys. As herd animals, that companionship was so important for their wellbeing.

The physical sanctuary itself grew over time through community goodwill. The main shelter was originally constructed and donated by Basil Read during the construction of the St Helena Airport. Over the years, the charity expanded the setup by purchasing a shed, new gates, and essential yard equipment. With Dolly’s passing, the pasture and shelter facilities are now being returned to ENRP.

In the sanctuary’s earlier years, community involvement was a regular highlight. Local families and visitors frequently joined in on Saturday mornings to take the (then) younger donkeys for walks around Blue Hill. This was gradually discontinued as the remaining donkeys aged and suffered from arthritis or lameness, and as passing traffic became faster. Teeny recalled.

Maintaining the donkeys’ health was a collaborative effort across the island. For the past eight years, Teeny and the committee worked closely with veterinary professionals.

We received tremendous support from vets, Joe and Andy, alongside Rico Williams, Clayton Andrews, and Kerry Sim from the ENRP veterinary team with hoof care, dental work, worming treatments, and medical advice, Teeny shared. Rico and Joe, in particular, worked hard with farriery equipment to make sure hooves stayed healthy and level, with Roddy Yon also assisting with hoof care in the past.

Specialised care also came from further afield. In 2018, professional farrier, Colin Goldsworthy, travelled to the island from the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon, UK, bringing specialised equipment and training the local veterinary team on proper hoof trimming and balancing. During his stay, Colin was kindly accommodated by Hazel Wilmot at The Consulate Hotel.

Land management was another joint effort. In recent years, local farmers Martin and Travis Peters, ran their sheep alongside the donkeys at Blue Hill. The sheep acted as natural pasture managers, eating the vegetation donkeys avoided and controlling weeds, while the local farmers helped with the repairing of fences and clearing fallen trees.

The St Helena Donkey Home was sustained by widespread public generosity. Treasurer, Father David, managed finances, while local families, school groups, and tourists regularly visited to groom the donkeys or collect dung from the paddocks. Saints living overseas sponsored individual donkeys, and tourists frequently donated items such as warm winter rugs. To raise essential operational funds, the charity also sold donkey-themed merchandise at local market stalls and sold sacks of pasture manure to local gardeners under the brand Garden Gold.

Though the Donkey Home is now winding down, its legacy will continue to support animal welfare across St Helena. Remaining funds in the charity’s account are being transferred to the local SPCA to assist the veterinary surgery with equipment upgrades. In the past, the Donkey Home funded heart monitors, an ultrasound scanner, stainless steel animal cages, and scrub tops for veterinary staff; the final remaining funds are currently financing a new animal weighing scale for the clinic. Looking back on the sanctuary’s history and the animals that touched so many lives, Teeny expressed heartfelt gratitude to the community.

The most recent old donkeys to pass over to donkey heaven over the past decade - Mama, Nelson, Sampson, Shim, Bella, and now Dolly - are all remembered with so much love for their very individual personalities, Teeny said. The St Helena Donkey Home would like to say a deep thank you to everyone who supported us in any way over the years.

This marks the sad end of an era on St Helena, and Teeny and her team, plus all of those over the years who have supported the St Helena Donkey Home, are thanked for your incredible contributions to St Helena’s beloved former working donkeys.

Article: St Helena through the eyes of…a Donkey Home

From Wirebird Blog{7}{11} 29th May 2014

Today we have interviewed Jodie Mills who runs the St Helena Donkey Home; an important conservation effort caring for the donkeys across the island.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you lived on St Helena for and what is your role at the Donkey home?

I have lived on St Helena for ‘Donkey’s Years’ - well actually no, only three and half years but I couldn’t resist squeezing a donkey pun in somewhere! When I arrived on the Island in my new conservation job my new boss took me on tour and we drove past some donkeys in a field. He said it was such a shame that no one looked after them or used them for work anymore. This got me thinking; I had always wanted a horse when I was younger, now this was my chance to have 13 donkeys instead! So I went to see the government’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department who were over the moon that someone wanted to look after the donkeys and the St Helena Donkey Home was born!

Q: What is the purpose of the Donkey Home?

The purpose of the Donkey Home is to:

• Promote the welfare and wellbeing of all donkeys on the island by providing them a safe habitat, shelter and regular care.

• Promote good animal care through training, education and awareness to prevent cruelty and suffering of the Island’s donkeys.

• Rehabilitate the donkeys back to a working life in a variety of roles; from providing therapy for children, becoming a tourist attraction, to carrying endemic plants through difficult terrain.

We do this by:

• Raising funds to improve the habitat of the donkeys and buy medical equipment / vet care.

• Educating the public about how to care for domestic donkeys and those kept as ‘pets’.

• Taking the donkeys on regular walks to help improve their physical and mental health.

• Running education programmes for animal care, riding skills and eventually behaviour therapy.

Q: Do you offer any activities for tourists visiting St Helena?

Yes, we have a regular donkey walk every Saturday morning which are very popular with locals and tourists alike and we also offer an eco tour with the donkeys around one of the most scenic areas of the island with tree planting and a picnic carried by the donkeys (and most often shared with the donkeys) thrown in too.

Q: How many donkeys do you now have? Are you expecting any new additions this year?

We currently have 14 donkeys and have just gained two new donkeys, one of which was in a terrible state that had been attacked by biting flies and Mynah Birds to the point where there was no hair left on her legs. She is now recovering well. The other new addition is a lovely old boy called Prince, probably the oldest donkey on the island - around 40 years old! He struggled a little walking up the hill to his new home but when on the flat he was off like a rocket! We also have two pregnant mares who will be expecting later on in the year. Donkeys are pregnant for a whole year (I have recently had a baby and nine months was enough!) so a long time to wait for new arrivals…

Q: What is the history of donkeys on St Helena?

In the past donkeys were an essential part of Island life; offering loyal service throughout many generations of our history. As ‘helping hooves’ to the islanders, donkeys transported goods and people all around the Island for centuries. They serviced visitors and locals alike, forming the backbone to the successful flax industry of St Helena. After all, a donkey is stronger than a horse of the same size!

However, with the introduction of electricity, cars and the collapse of the flax industry, Donkeys found themselves out of work. Many people no longer wanted or could no longer care for their donkeys and the population plummeted from 1650 at the height of flax industry in the 1960s to just 38 today.

Q: What is your passion behind caring for donkeys?

I have always loved donkeys and horses and spent many a summer holiday on Scarborough beach nagging my mum for another 50p for a donkey ride. To now have the opportunity to care for 14 donkeys is a real treat for me - I love it.

Q: Is the airport development having an effect on the Donkey Home?

In May 2012 the donkeys on St Helena were in desperate need of a shelter as their paddock often gets very wet in the winter and all the donkeys suffer from seedy toe and thrush in their hooves. That month we happened to have a male donkey in and I named him Basil after the airport contractors Basil Reed. I arranged a meeting with the CEO and said, We’ve had a baby donkey and named him Basil - would you like to build him a shelter?…and they did!!! They did such an amazing job and now all the donkeys can enjoy a cosy night’s sleep undercover. I’m just hoping Basil will get an invite to the opening of the airport…

Q: Is the Donkey Home currently fundraising for a cause? How can people get involved with the home from overseas? Can we adopt a donkey?!

The Donkey Home relies on donations, grants and the sale of merchandise. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Adopt a donkey - for £20 a year you will get regular updates on their progress, as you personally contribute to the medication, care and food of the donkey, with opportunities to care for your donkey yourself if you’d like to! When you adopt a donkey you receive a personalised certificate of gratitude, making great gifts for loved ones both overseas and on island!

• Volunteer? The St Helena Donkey Home needs volunteers with a range of skills; help with running fundraising events, website design, gathering donkey food, maintaining the shelter, transport…you name it, we need it!

• Leave a legacy

• Place a collection box in shops/bars or other public amenities you may own.

• Purchase donkey merchandise

• Buy a bag of donkey poop (gift wrap available!)