Donkey Sanctuary Aruba

Formed in 1997 to answer to the problem of a plethora of wild donkeys trotting about Aruba, the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba is a not-for-profit animal care facility run entirely by volunteers and funded by donations. It’s an excellent place to get your “animal fix” if you are missing your pets left at home when you visit Aruba on vacation.

How did so many donkeys end up loose on the island of Aruba Netherland Antilles? Although they are not native to the island, donkeys were imported about 500 years ago to serve as a means of transportation, for people and to carry their goods from place to place. Once cars became more prevalent on Aruba, some people simply abandoned their trusty donkeys and left then to roam wild. Their population grew and caused all manner of problems until a disease infected the herd in the 1970s and wiped out all but about 20 of the creatures.

That’s when the Donkey Sanctuary was formed, its mission to care for the donkeys, and ensure their good health and proper nutrition. There are now about 130 donkeys happily housed in the sanctuary. Their individual personalities vary, but many are highly socialized and enjoy being petted by visitors, or fed apples and carrots; they are quite tame.

For those who want their children (or themselves!) to experience caring for a donkey, visitors are encouraged to arrive at the sanctuary early and participate in feeding and caring for the animals. It’s a one-of-a-kind, hands-on experiential form of education and an chance to be kind to other beings; be sure to leave a generous donation! Located in Santa Cruz, the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba sits in the south-central area of the island, and easy drive from Oranjestad and the resort areas.

Savaneta Weather

Local Temp: 29.1℃ / 84.4℉

High: 29.1℃ / 84.4℉

Low: 29.1℃ / 84.4℉

Humidity: 61 %

Local Time: 15:07

Contact Information

Address:

Bringamosa 2-Z

Telephone: +297 593 2933

Website: https://www.arubandonkey.org