Latest news with #donkeys
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
New Forest donkeys spark backlash from furious locals after raiding council wheelie bins for leftover food
Donkeys in the New Forest have sparked a furious backlash from locals after the animals have been found raiding council wheelie bins for leftover food. Residents living in the National Park in Hampshire are demanding that their council be fined as an ongoing row between locals and the authority surrounding bins persists. Tory-run New Forest District Council [NFDC] caused uproar earlier this year by introducing food waste bins. Since the expensive rollout, which cost the authority £5.6million between April and June, the forest's free-roaming animals have been eating from them. Although they are common across the UK, homes in the New Forest have never had them. Brian Tarnoff is part of an association helping protect the New Forest, and he is urging neighbours to 'tally up' every donkey seen chomping on scraps during bin collection day. He argues this data could then be used to fine the NFDC for violating a bylaw banning the feeding of livestock. New pictures show even more instances of 'feeding frenzies' as the free-roaming donkeys, of which there are 200 in the Forest, gather around toppled over food waste bins and feast on the contents. As well as donkeys, other animal which roam free in the forest, such as ponies, are also joining in on the feast left outside on bin collection days Some members of the equine breed can even be seen eating the bright green bin liners themselves, a huge choking hazard. Mark Timbrell, from the village of Sway, said he had to pull one of the plastic bags out of the mouth of a baby donkey. He said: 'I had to physically pull a green waste bag out of a baby donkey's mouth - it had approximately two thirds of the bag in its mouth and would have choked. 'I then cleared up all the waste and put the bins behind a gate. This will happen time and time again. It's dangerous. 'I reported the incident to Forestry England, who also believe this is now a danger to livestock.' There are concerns that the discarded scraps could spread diseases such as foot and mouth or African swine flu among livestock which would be catastrophic for farmers. The controversy began with the delivery of new plastic caddies for leftovers and wheelie bins for general waste - common in most of the country - to homes across the national park between April and June. The new containers have already been delivered to homes in Brockenhurst, New Milton, Lymington, and surrounding areas, with those in and around Ringwood, Fordingbridge, and Hyde will receive them from October, and those in Totton, Lyndhurst and Lepe getting them in March 2026. NFDC told residents that these bins, which are supposedly livestock proof, must be kept outside of property boundaries, unlike the old system where waste was kept in sacks behind gates and therefore away from animals. Some fear the problem will only worsen in the coming months as the pannage season begins in autumn, when pigs are released into the New Forest to feed on acorns and other fallen nuts - but this year they may be more drawn to the food waste. Sarah Neild, chair of the 168-year-old New Forest Association, told the Verderers' court that the instructions from the local council have been 'totally inconsistent'. She said: 'In the past, New Forest District Council as part of the Shared New Forest Project, agreed with the Verderers and the Commoners' Defence Association that waste bags should be placed inside the gate or cattle grid of New Forest properties. 'As a resident of Brockenhurst, I find the New Forest District Council guidance totally inconsistent. 'The website says one thing and leaflets distributed to residents says another. The latter says bins should be placed at your property boundary - that could be within your gate. 'However, online guidance says it should be beyond the gate - inconsistency is also evident in New Forest District Council's public space protection order against feeding stock, and their own actions which do just that.' She added that the change in receptacle shouldn't mean switching where bins are stored and that the 'so called' locks to prevent livestock getting in are 'totally inadequate'. The Verderers' court 'regulates and protects the New Forest's unique agricultural commoning practices'. Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the Commoners' Defence Association, has raised concerns about the impact panage season will have on the food waste concern and urged talks to sort the issue before it begins in September The Commoners' are a more than thousand-year-old body made up of locals with the right to graze their animals, including the 200 free-roaming donkeys, in the national park. He said: 'We now have a problem that needs a very fast solution; soon pannage season will start and pigs will be even quicker in opening the bins than the donkeys. 'Urgent discussions need to take place involving all interested parties, maybe suspending the separation of waste food from general waste until the problem is solved.' In a statement, the New Forest District Council said the new system was a 'big step forward' in managing the area's waste and would make things more 'environmentally responsible'. A spokesperson said: 'The waste collection service is undergoing a major transformation, including new vehicles and different waste containers, plus the re-routed collection rounds so that they become more operationally efficient. 'These changes are all to bring the service up to date with modern practices, so that the recycling rate for the area can increase... 'Thank you to residents in the first phase for their participation in the new system, now still only five weeks in, and continued patience and support towards our staff during this period of major change. 'These changes are a big step forward in how we manage waste across the New Forest and are helping us build a more efficient and environmentally responsible service for the long term.' Some who are still on the old system of refuse sacks have also reported problems with weeks of missed bin collections as there is now confusion between the different areas. Households in the national park have been given a 23-litre brown outdoor food waste recycling caddy and a five-litre grey indoor food waste recycling caddy. The council said food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility where it will be used to create fertiliser and renewable energy.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Couple 'panicked' by destructive discovery on outback roadside
An Aussie couple were left panicked when they pulled over on an outback road and noticed something unwanted staring back at them. Twelve large eyes were watching their every move, but it wasn't their own safety they were concerned about, it was the danger the creatures posed to the wider landscape. Photos supplied by Ellisha Martion and her partner to Yahoo News show six alarmed donkeys hiding in a narrow strip of vegetation after they wandered out of the Big Desert State Forest in Victoria's northwest. 'They were very aware of us, that's for sure. At one stage, they made a weird noise which scared me because they can be defensive. It was kind of like a grunt and a hiss, it was weird,' she told Yahoo News. With the park already being impacted by other feral predators like cats, foxes and deer, discovering another threat left her feeling worried about the rare native plants and animals that live there. The donkeys are likely an imminent threat to the landscape — invasive animal species are responsible for the highest number of animal extinctions in Australia. 'I was shocked. Donkeys weren't high on the list of things I was expecting to see. I was a bit panicked because we had no phone service,' Martion said. 'I wondered what we were supposed to do because we couldn't really catch them on our own.' The hooves of donkeys can be highly damaging to the wider wilderness area. Unlike the soft pads of native mammals, their feet cut deep into the soil like sharp poles, as images taken on Sunday highlight. Martion, the founder of Big Desert Dingo Research, was travelling through the landscape to monitor its critically endangered dingo population. As few as 40 are left in the state's northwest, and she's concerned about the impact that donkeys could have on them. Water is scarce in the region because there's no permanent supply, and there are fears the donkeys could drain and muddy the resource. Feral horses, deer and pigs create similar problems in Victoria's fragile High Country. 'There's not much water out there, we need to preserve it as much as we can,' Martion said. 'The area is susceptible to erosion. There are tiny native plants that are threatened with extinction, so having donkeys running over them isn't great.' 🌊 Grim find prompts calls to make $43.9 million change in Aussie waters 🪨 Inventor's valuable secret hidden beneath pile of rocks in outback 📸 Rare colour footage of extinct Australian animal seen again after 90 years The presence of donkeys in the area was confirmed using a trail camera two years ago, but this second sighting of what appears to be a larger group has sparked concern they could become established. Reports have been made to authorities about Saturday's incident, but it's unclear what action will be taken. Victoria's department of agriculture, which sits within the department of environment (DEECA) has been contacted for comment, but it did not immediately respond. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
At this small town Minnesota cafe, donkeys are the main attraction
Love donkeys? This Minnesota cafe is for you. Love donkeys? This Minnesota cafe is for you. Love donkeys? This Minnesota cafe is for you. One couple is bringing their beloved animals to New Germany, Minnesota, to create a small town cafe with a surprising twist. "So we've got Rockefeller, and we've got Flapjack. Very friendly and very social. They love to be brushed," Kelley MacNally said, describing her donkeys. These miniature donkeys have spent their entire lives in the country. They live at a farm called Hee-Haw Hollow. But now, a couple of times a week, they turn into downtown donkeys — guests of honor at a new type of cafe. "I'm kind of a crazy donkey lover. I'm very passionate about donkeys. I thought, why not spill this into the cafe?" Kelley MacNally said. So that's what Kelley MacNally and her husband, Brett MacNally, did. Last year, they bought an old bar in New Germany and turned it into the Fancy Farmer. They hope it provides a little kick to the economy. "And we are trying to do this to build the town up. That's what we are trying to do here," Brett MacNally. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Everywhere you look, you see a donkey staring back. "All of the donkey photos in the café are donkeys from our farm," Kelley MacNally said. From pictures to T-shirts — even the guestbook is donkey-themed, as are the drink specials. "One of the summer specials is called 'My Donkey Boy.' We have another coffee drink called 'Donkin Out on Broadway.'" Kelley MacNally said. "I think it's a great idea. It's a wonderful idea for sure," said Jared Ellis, customer. Part of the goal is to educate people about these animals. The MacNallys say donkeys have excellent memories. They can remember people, places, and other donkeys for many years. And here, they'll have plenty of faces to remember. Kelley and Brett MacNally want customers to experience what they experience every day. "We don't get close to them like this, so this is special," said Laura Bennett, a customer. "I think it's very cool. Great for the kids, definitely." The cafe has caught the attention of out-of-towners driving through or even biking by — because when you see these fellas hang out downtown, you've got to stop. "It's unique. It's been amazing. People love it," Brett MacNally said. The café is located on Broadway Street in downtown New Germany, close to the Dakota Rail Regional bike trail. The MacNallys bring their donkeys to the cafe a few times a week. To find out when, you can check out their website.
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Donkeys cause chaos by breaking into eco-friendly food bins
Roaming donkeys in the New Forest could scupper a full roll-out of food waste bins for residents after breaking into them and having a 'feast'. The animals are taking advantage of a three-month pilot scheme in Brockenhurst, New Milton and Lymington by tucking into leftovers but concerns have been raised that they could contract foot and mouth disease or African swine fever. 'I think it is only going to get worse. If the donkeys start working out how to get into these bins then they will keep doing it and the diseases will continue to spread, which is just not fair on the animals,' said Andrew Parry-Norton, chairman of the Commoners' Defence Association which has represented the Hampshire national park's community and animals for more than 100 years. 'And it will only get worse in the autumn when the pigs come out, as they really will eat anything. If the diseases spread then it could cost the farming industry, which is already in a tough place, millions if not billions of pounds to deal with. That is not an exaggeration. 'We are all for recycling, especially as the area is so connected to nature, but it needs to be done in the right way.' Mr Parry-Norton previously raised concerns about the wisdom of the scheme at the Verderers Court, which 'regulates and protects the New Forest's unique agricultural commoning practices'. Residents in the trial have been given a 23-litre brown outdoor food waste caddy and a five-litre grey box for indoors. New Forest district council said food waste would be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility and used to create fertiliser and renewable energy. Gail Whitcher, a New Forest resident, posted photos on Facebook showing donkeys eating from a toppled bin in Brockenhurst. She said: 'The donkeys have knocked over the waste bins into the road and have had a feast all the way down the road on the food waste bins, which I witnessed them opening. It's chaos.' Jack Davies, councillor for Pennington and former mayor of Lymington, said his ward was bearing the brunt of the experiment. He told The Telegraph: 'We are the guinea pig for the rest of the New Forest. The teething problems that we are having will be ironed out but that is no comfort to us in the first phase as there are clearly issues. The new bins feel cheap.' A spokesman for the council said the situation was being monitored 'in the early days of the new service' and advised residents to store the caddies within their property boundary except on collection day. He added: 'The move to bins and caddies is already leading to a massive improvement in street cleanliness. The previously used rubbish sacks were often ripped open by the free roaming animals, as well as seagulls, and foxes.'
The Guardian
23-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘They had a feast': New Forest donkeys spark backlash after raiding new food waste bins
In the US, residents have to contend with bears and racoons rummaging through the trash. In the UK, we have donkeys. A decision to introduce food waste bins in the New Forest national park in Hampshire has provoked a backlash – after the tenacious equines were caught breaking into them. In the last few months plastic caddies to recycle food leftovers – common in much of the country – have been distributed to residents in the area for the first time. This has led to warnings that their introduction could spread disease as livestock that has historically roamed free in the area, including ponies, donkeys and pigs, would find them irresistible when left out for collection. Within weeks of their introduction, donkeys have been spotted in several locations eating food out of the bins in various locations. Photos taken in Brockenhurst, a large village in the national park, show several of the animals gathered around a toppled over bin eating food scraps that have spread across the road. Posting the photos on Facebook, New Forest resident Gail Whitcher asked others to keep their food waste bins inside their gates and described the scene as chaos. She said: 'The donkeys have knocked over the waste bins into the road and have had a feast all the way down the road on the food waste bins which I witnessed them opening. It's chaos.' There are 200 free-roaming donkeys in the national park, all cared for by the commoners – locals who have the right to graze animals – and are said to be vital to the area's ecosystem. The commoners said they were worried that the roaming animals could contract foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever from the food waste, which would be 'extremely dangerous'. Authorities in Hampshire's New Forest first approved a divisive wheelie bin scheme in 2022. Under the £5.6m programme, food waste caddies are being delivered to residents in Brockenhurst, New Milton, Lymington, and surrounding areas between April and June. Andrew Parry-Norton, the Commoners Defence Association chair, said they want the New Forest district council to change its advice to leave the bins outside property gates and instead to keep them inside. They have also suggested more secure locks should be put on the bins. 'This is exactly what we thought would happen and I think it is only going to get worse,' Parry-Norton said. 'If the donkeys start working out how to get into these bins then they will keep doing it and the diseases will continue to spread, which is just not fair on the animals.' Households in the national park have been given a 23-litre brown outdoor food waste recycling caddy, and a five-litre grey indoor food waste recycling caddy. New Forest district council has been contacted for comment.
