A wild burro named Cupid is recovering after being shot with an arrow in Moreno Valley, California, about 65 miles east of Los Angeles. The two-year-old female was found last Wednesday with a blue arrow protruding from her right shoulder while wandering with a herd in the foothills.
Animal services and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded, and the animal underwent emergency surgery to remove the arrowhead, which had punctured her right lung. Chad Cheatham, vice-president of DonkeyLand, a non-profit rescue organisation, said Cupid is now stable and standing, a huge improvement. Once fully recovered, she will join other rescued burros at DonkeyLand's 2,000-acre sanctuary.
This is the latest in at least six bow attacks on burros in the area since June. DonkeyLand is offering a $24,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services said the investigation is ongoing and asked for public help in identifying suspects.
Wild burros are protected under federal law and are an iconic symbol of the US south-west, dating back to the Gold Rush. Cheatham noted they are an unofficial mascot of Moreno Valley, where hundreds have roamed for at least 75 years, and help with wildfire abatement by eating dry grass. However, they can be a nuisance when they eat flowers or block roads.
Last year, two men pleaded guilty to federal charges for killing three wild burros with high-powered rifles in the Mojave Desert, about 90 miles north of Moreno Valley.
