I have just returned from the land of Oz where I managed to spend some time with donkey owners living near the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. What interested me was the fact that although it was spring, and the daffodils were out in abundance, their main concern was that there was no grass growing due to a severe drought. The donkeys were grazing the fields set aside for the winter already. This is not at all uncommon for this area as no rain can fall for months on end. All the donkeys I saw were looking in good condition, though some had seedy toe in their off side front feet.

I had a lovely welcome from the Donkey Society Of New South Wales, most of whom had visited the Sanctuary in Sidmouth at one time and they have expressed an invitation for any British donkey lover that visits their area in the future to get in touch for wonderful Australian donkey hospitality.

I travelled down through the outback on the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Adalaide and was so disappointed not to see one ferral donkey, yet alone the thousands that are supposed to roam these parts. Camels, dingos, wedgetail eagles, wallabies, kangeroos, crocs, horses, big nasty things, various smaller nasty things, you name it I saw it but no sign of a donkey anywhere. Has anyone seen these herds?