Over 50 donkey owners in parts of Nakuru East and North yesterday converged at the Kenya Industrial Training College to get tips on better care and use of donkeys. The workshop, organised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights advocacy group, and the Rift Valley Donkey Owners Association helped farmers get tips on breeding, feeding, marketing and security of donkeys in order to stop abuse while mitigating extinction. The chairman of the Rift Valley Donkey Owners Association Gabriel Kimani observed that donkeys are among the most misused and abused beasts in the world yet they add value to human lives. He said that there was need for donkey farmers to be educated on good care of donkeys so that they can get better services from the animals. “The workshop aimed at sensitising donkey owners on several matters concerning donkeys especially protecting the animals from human predators as currently being witnessed in some parts of the country. We hope such forums will be regular,’’ said Kimani . The Kenyan Chapter representative of PETA Dr William Wangusi said the organisation was concerned with the recent and recurrent reports about killing of donkeys in Kenya. He announced that the organisation was planning to establish a conservancy of endangered species including donkeys in Kenya to spearhead breeding and conservation. “We are very concerned about the reports we get concerning killing of donkeys irresponsibly. We will do all we can to protect donkeys because they are among endangered species,’’ he said.

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