DONATIONS from as far afield as America have been flooding

in to help a water buffalo, which has been tormented by cruel

thugs.

An animal welfare charity has also announced it has put up a

£1,000 reward for information leading to the culprits being

caught.

Oink, Derby's famous 15-year-old gentle giant, has had

bricks thrown at him, washing-up liquid put in his water trough

and his hay set on fire.

A website was set up to raise money for new fencing at his

home in Haslam's Lane, Darley Abbey, to keep him safe and so

far 150 people from across the globe have donated a total of

£1,669.

Money has been sent from Seattle and Stamford in the US and

messages of support have also come in from Denmark.

One comment reads: “Big hugs from fans in Copenhagen. Oink

is a star!”

And another, sent from Martyn in Florida, reads: “Hi there,

just read the article... appalling... Best of luck to you and

Oink.”

Oink's owner, Katherine Moore, of Darley Park Road, said she

had been overwhelmed by the response. She said: “I just can't

believe how supportive people have been.

“I'm not very technical so my son has to log on to the

internet and tell me how the website is doing.

“After what has happened to poor Oink, this response has

restored my faith in human kindness.”

Mrs Moore said that the money would go towards new, stronger

fencing and a holding pen which would make it easier when Oink

needs to be treated by a vet.

She said: “He weighs a tonne and a half, so anything to make

him safer and more secure would be great.

“I'm just still so overwhelmed by everyone's kindness.”

Media interest in Oink's plight has been frenzied this week,

following the Evening Telegraph's story about the thugs'

attacks on him.

He has appeared on national TV, radio, national newspapers

and on countless radio stations.

Mrs Moore said: “When one show came to film him it was

5.30am and he staggered out of his little house, looking all

bewildered.

“By the time they finished filming, he just went back to his

bed after a fill of food and went to sleep.

“It's as though he was saying: 'That's me done now – I'm

podged'.”

Dave Lakin, of Lawnside, Spondon, supplied and fitted CCTV

equipment free of charge earlier this week, to watch over

Oink.

The 34-year-old said: “The fact that so many people have

read about him and are donating money to help him is absolutely

brilliant.”

An animal charity, People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals, yesterday put up a £1,000 reward for information about

Oink's plight which leads to a prosecution.

PETA's founder, Ingrid Newkirk, said: “Animal abusers are

cowards.

“They take their issues out on the most defenceless beings

available to them.”