ISLE of Wight Donkey Sanctuary has announced the death of its much-loved donkey, Naomi, a longstanding member of the herd.

Naomi passed away peacefully on her bed in Poppy’s Place early this morning (Monday, November 7) in the company of her friends in the 'OAP group', Jill, Sooty, Harvey, Chalkey, Charlie, Bob, Eric, Merlin and Colin. 

The Sanctuary said Naomi was in her 40s and old age finally for the better of her, and the team believes that her heart finally gave up, and Naomi calmly went to sleep. 

Naomi was a beautiful grey and white donkey, who everybody recognised on site because she unusually had her tongue out, as she had very few teeth left, meaning her tongue fell out of her mouth.

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Everybody recognised her as one of the Sanctuary’s few donkeys to only have one eye, and she amazed staff with how well she was able to cope after having an eye removed. 

In her younger years, she was in the main girl’s herd but often went on holidays to the diet herd due to her weight fluctuation. 

As she grew older, she found herself in the ‘Old and Proud Herd’, where two of the old gentlemen, Colin and Eric, kept a caring and watchful eye on her through the years.

Many of the Sanctuary staff and volunteers affectionately called her Nim Nom, and she was instantly loved by everyone that met and cared for her.

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The Donkey Sanctuary said: “Our donkeys all end their lives with us, and our hope is always that we have given them the best life possible here at the sanctuary. 

“Naomi was happy, content, was hugely loved and ended her days surrounded by her favourite donkey friends. 

“This was the epitome of the phrase’ a lovely way to go’, with no pain, no suffering, and just falling asleep.

“We understand the inevitability of the ending of life, this has been a terribly difficult few months for everybody at the Sanctuary, and the loss of Naomi, along with other, older donkeys who we have said goodbye to this year, has hit everybody hard. 

“R.I.P Little Nim Nom.”