Miniature donkeys a cute distraction for quarantine staff

Quarantine has change into a brand new actuality for overseas staff, athletes, and anybody else travelling from abroad, however for animals it has been in place for greater than a century.

Animals should cross by means of the Mickleham Submit Entry Quarantine Facility the place they bear isolation and testing for pests and illnesses.

The power hosts all method of animals from the frequent to the uncommon, together with a current drove of seven miniature donkeys.

The miniature donkeys — six females, often known as jennies, and a male jack — have been imported from the USA by Malakai Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys at Miners Relaxation, close to Ballarat. 

Lee Cale, assistant secretary for biosecurity operations on the Division of Agriculture, Water and the Surroundings, stated the donkeys have been a delight to deal with.

“Definitely the employees on the quarantine station very a lot loved having the donkeys right here,” she stated.

“They’re fairly miniature, about half the dimensions of a traditional donkey.”

However on a extra severe be aware, Ms Cale stated cuteness issue doesn’t decrease the potential risk posed by the donkeys.

Stringent import measures

Ms Cale stated import necessities various relying on the kind of animal, however donkeys have been handled the identical as horses.

“So that they bear pre-export quarantine and a collection of official authorities certifications to exhibit they’re freed from pests and illnesses previous to loading for export,” she stated.

“After they get right here they’ve to finish 14 days of quarantine, and as soon as that is accomplished we are able to launch them.”

Mickelham has also been chosen as the site for Melbourne’s Centre for National Resilience, a 1,000-bed facility for individuals getting back from abroad.

Ms Cale stated there have been many parallels between quarantine necessities for animals and procedures in place for people.

“We have been within the animal quarantine recreation for greater than 100 years. Our first laws was again in 1908 with the Quarantine Act,” she stated.

“They’re the foundations of quarantine.”