Authorities and animal advocates in Riverside County, California, are seeking the public’s assistance after another wild donkey was recently discovered with an arrow lodged in her body—a continuation of a string of incidents reported around Moreno Valley.
DonkeyLand, a wildlife sanctuary in the county, has documented at least six instances of wild donkeys being shot with arrows since 2018, with half occurring within the last two months. The latest victim, a 2-year-old female burro, was found on Tuesday among a herd near Pigeon Pass Road, an arrow embedded in her right lung.
Sgt. Dwight Espeleta from Riverside County Animal Services told local station KTLA that, alongside Moreno Valley Animal Control and DonkeyLand volunteers, they managed to guide the herd into a pen to keep the wounded burro with her family, before transporting her to the SoCal Equine Hospital in Norco.
The sanctuary’s founder, Amber LeVonne, noted that the young donkey, named “Cupid,” was the first case they caught while the arrow was still intact. Other incidents have been observed, photographed, and mostly assisted by DonkeyLand, including two earlier this summer.
Although previous arrows were not retrieved, Sgt. Espeleta mentioned that documentation indicates each arrow’s fletching was of a different color.
“We’re unsure if they’re identical arrows, but it has certainly been a pattern recently,” Espeleta stated. “Having obtained this arrow, we’ll be coordinating with the sheriff’s office… it’s a matter of great importance to us.”
In an update on Saturday, LeVonne said the hospital successfully removed most of the arrow but that Cupid would need to undergo another surgery on Monday to have the arrowhead removed, which was lodged in her thoracic region.
“The arrow actually passed through a small portion of her right lung and is very close to puncturing her left lung,” read DonkeyLand’s Facebook update. “It is very painful for her as it is scraping against the underside of her shoulder blade every time she moves. A chip of bone that was dislodged from the arrow is also endangering her left lung.”
LeVonne is asking for the community’s help with donations to help with medical costs for Cupid, who she said “ is so young, innocent and very sweet.” Authorities are also asking for help to identify one or multiple suspected archers and bring an end to the disturbing trend, and DonkeyLand is offering a reward of $14,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Espeleta said they will be pursuing criminal charges for felony animal cruelty. Anyone with information about the attempted murder of the wild burros is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Station at 951-955-2400 or the Department of Animal Services at 951-358-7387.
