Two new live-stream webcams have just been installed at the Sidmouth-based Donkey Sanctuary broadcasting live footage of rescued donkeys around the clock.

Previously, the charity’s two ‘Donkey Watch’ webcams transmitted static images, which were only updated every 60 seconds.

The new webcams are a vast improvement and allow website visitors to view live footage of the Sanctuary’s rescued donkeys both inside the barn and out in their field.

Jenifer Tucker, web editor at the Sanctuary says: “The new webcams are attracting a high number of visitors; in fact, since the webcams went ‘live’ we’ve had over 22,000 hits. We hope to make things even more interesting for our website visitors by giving them notice of activities they can watch, such as the farrier visiting to trim the donkeys’ hooves!”

The webcams were installed by fiNETra from Wellington, Somerset. Mark Welch from the live video-streaming company owns his own donkeys, Albert and Archie. His company are now offering free technical support to anyone experiencing problems with the webcams.

The charity will still make use of the older static webcams. These will be sent out to Ireland where the Sanctuary has another farm near Liscarroll in County Cork for rescuing donkeys. The Donkey Watch webcams can be viewed all year round and a forum has been introduced, so visitors can chat with others about what they have enjoyed watching... or what they would like to see more of.

For further information about The Donkey Sanctuary and to view the new webcams, visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk where you can also find out if you could foster a pair of donkeys on your smallholding.