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A free-roaming donkey nicknamed Cupid is recuperating from surgery subsequent to being struck with an arrow in what authorities describe as the latest in a string of six attacks beginning in June on burros that wander semirural areas of the state's southeastern region.

Animal Aid Ongoing

The juvenile female was seen last Wednesday with a blue arrow protruding from her right shoulder as she roamed with a herd in the lower slopes of the region.

Wildlife rescuers and the local sheriff’s department reacted and supported the evacuation of the wounded animal in for an critical surgery to take out the arrow. The projectile had penetrated the burro’s chest cavity.

“She is currently stable and is upright, which is a huge step forward,” an animal advocate stated.

When Cupid is fully recovered, she will join a group of rescued burros who wander a large refuge and wildlife preserve.

Bounty Posted for Information

The non-profit is posting a twenty-four thousand dollar reward, funded by donations, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those implicated in at least six bow attacks on burros over the recent period.

The local agency of animal services stated that the inquiry is still active, and asked for the people's support in finding a responsible party.

Protected Species

Free-roaming asses are shielded under national legislation. They are an recognizable representation of the American West, dating to their days as pack animals for people heading toward California during the 19th-century rush.

Burros have become an “informal symbol” of the region, where numerous of them have rambled freely for at least three-quarters of a century. They even aid in wildfire abatement by consuming tinder in isolated and fire-prone canyons.

“So they really do provide a benefit to the community. Fire crews love them because, they say: ‘Wow, these guys can go areas we can’t go,’” an advocate added.

Community Impact

The animals are gentle but at times they can be a nuisance if they consume landscaped plants or cause delays when motorists stop to feed them from their cars.

Previously, a neighboring county, where wild burros are thought to count in the thousands, partnered with a charitable group to responsibly catch the animals and relocate them to sanctuaries.

“Although the wild burros delight numerous residents and visitors, they also commonly come across cars and trucks and cargo trains, resulting in harm for animals and people,” the county reported.

“The burros also badly hurt themselves causing disease and fatality when they become entangled in barriers or when their appendages get stuck in grave markers.”

Repeated Violence

The shots used in the assaults were broadheads, a style traditionally used for hunting. According to rescue records, the opening assault occurred the weekend of 14 June, when a young burro was found eating with an arrow in her side near where Cupid was found.

Soon thereafter, a another burro was found struck with a similar style of arrow in the identical region. From that point, at least three other donkeys were targeted in the vicinity, including a pair believed to be two to four months old.

Healthy donkeys typically live 40 years or more and differ in stature from waist-high “miniatures” that may weigh 135kg to large “giants”.

Last year, two men pleaded guilty to federal charges for using high-powered rifles to slay three wild burros in an arid zone.