Injured Burro Named Cupid Recovers from Arrow Attack
A wild burro named Cupid is on the mend following surgery after being shot with an arrow. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks since June.
The two-year-old female burro was discovered last Wednesday, wandering near a herd in the Moreno Valley, roughly 65 miles east of Los Angeles, with a blue arrow sticking out from her right shoulder.
Animal Services, alongside the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, intervened to bring the injured burro in for emergency treatment to remove the arrow.
Chad Cheetham, vice president of the nonprofit rescue group Donkeyland, shared that the arrow had penetrated Cupid’s right lung.
“Now she’s stable and standing, which is a huge improvement,” he noted on Monday.
Once fully healed, Cupid will join a group of rescued burros roaming freely in Donkeyland’s expansive 2,000-acre sanctuary.
The rescue organization is offering a reward of $24,000, collected from donations, for information that leads to the capture and conviction of those responsible for at least six attacks on burros in recent months.
The Riverside County Animal Services Department has stated that the investigation is ongoing and is seeking public assistance to identify possible suspects.
Wild burros are protected under federal law.
These animals are considered iconic in the American Southwest, having historically served as pack animals during the California Gold Rush.
Cheetham referred to Cupid as the “unofficial mascot” of Moreno Valley, where burros have roamed freely for about 75 years. Interestingly, they also help mitigate wildfires by grazing on dry grass in fire-prone areas.
“They really benefit the community. Firefighters appreciate them, saying, ‘These animals can go where we can’t,'” Cheetham mentioned.
While these burros bring joy to many, they sometimes cause minor inconveniences, like blocking traffic as they forage for food.
Last year, San Bernardino County contracted a nonprofit organization to humanely capture some wild burros and relocate them to a sanctuary, as there are concerns regarding their safety in urban areas.
The arrows used in these attacks are of a type typically associated with hunting.
Donkeyland noted that the first reported incident occurred around June 14 when a young burro was found grazing nearby, also shot with an arrow. Following that, another burro was discovered with similar injuries, and at least three others have been shot and killed in the vicinity since.
Healthy donkeys typically live over 40 years and vary in size, from small “mini” breeds to larger “mammoths” weighing up to 300 pounds.
In a related incident last year, two men admitted to federal charges for killing three wild burros in the Mojave Desert, about 90 miles north of Moreno Valley.
