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Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Donkey slaughtering project sparks controversy
Listen to article As a nation, we often show little regard for the rights of animals, with the mistreatment of working animals—particularly donkeys—ranking high on the list. Now, it appears that in a couple of years, donkeys, like dinosaurs, will become fictional animals from books thanks to the government's haphazard decision to initiate commercial donkey slaughtering in the absence of any breeding farms. Reportedly, the slaughterhouse in Gwadar is preparing to export donkey bones and hides to China, where they are used to produce gelatin for traditional medicine. This, however, won't stop at Gwadar since applications have already been received from other companies looking to establish slaughterhouses across the country. Animal rights activists, however, argue that with the donkey population already dangerously low and no breeding farms available, slaughtering the working animals will only exacerbate the decline in their population. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Javed Gondal, CEO of Brooke Pakistan, an international organization working for the welfare of working animals, claimed that the slaughterhouse established in Gwadar will have the capacity to annually process and slaughter 216,000 donkeys, who will be transported from different parts of the country to the slaughterhouse before they are exported to China. 'High exports of donkeys may lead to their shortage in Pakistan, where the birth rate of donkeys is lower than that of other animals. Some African countries have banned the exports of donkeys after a decline in their population,' said Dr Gondal. Likewise, Altamash Saeed, an environmental and animal rights consultant, expressed his fears that in the aftermath of the project, donkeys will be transported from different parts of the country to Gwadar through inappropriate ways. 'Apart from this, donkeys are the source of livelihood for thousands of families across the country. They are being used for freight, garbage collection, agriculture, industry and mining. Hence, slaughtering donkeys will increase poverty. Moreover, slaughtering donkeys is forbidden on the grounds that Article 2A of the Constitution states that no action can be taken against the fundamental principles of Islam in Pakistan,' highlighted Saeed, who believed that slaughtering donkeys was not only against the Constitution but was also religiously inappropriate. According to the Donkey Sanctuary, a welfare organization working for the protection of donkeys, the African Union has banned the slaughtering of donkeys for skin trade on the grounds that the practice could eventually lead donkeys towards becoming an endangered species just like the rhinos and elephants. Responding to the concerns, Former Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr Muhammad Akram, who is monitoring this project at the official level, informed that the country was home to 5.2 million donkeys, whose body parts, including the skin were used in the manufacture of cosmetics and other products. 'The main reason behind the decline in the number of donkeys is that their use has decreased. Due to this, donkey farming has never been pursued like other livestock. The company working on the donkey slaughtering project has been required to first work on donkey farming and then start slaughtering. They will be required to farm the same number of donkeys they will slaughter annually. Discussions are currently underway with five companies on donkey farming. These companies want to build slaughterhouses in different parts of the country,' said Dr Akram.
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Pics show Cork teddy bears taking over a popular donkey sanctuary in a fun day for the little ones
In addition to their owners, the cuddly Bears brought along mums and dads, nanas and granddads, to visit the donkeys, enjoy a picnic in the open air and take part in many of the fun activities on offer. Mother Nature was benevolent and the sun drenched Knockardbane farm provided the perfect setting for a wonderful family day out. Since the Donkey Sanctuary opened in Liscarroll in 1987, staff have loved and cared for over 5,600 neglected and abandoned donkeys from across Ireland. Every donkey taken in to the Sanctuary is guaranteed a life of loving care and for many, it is the first time in their lives that they have felt loving hands and heard kind voices. Great care is taken to ensure that each donkey has individual attention. 'Today we have over 1,500 donkeys and mules in our care, around 400 of these donkeys reside in private guardian homes throughout the country as part of our re homing scheme and the remainder of the donkeys are based across our four farms in the Liscarroll area,' a staff member explained. The Donkey Sanctuary's mission is to transform the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people worldwide through greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships. The free-to-visit Sanctuary has something very special to offer, whether you're looking for a family day out or to spend some quality time with the donkeys. Visitors can explore the scenic walkways and meet the resident donkeys. The visitor information centre at the Sanctuary is the best place to find out about the amazing work staff do.. Staff who organised the Teddy Bears Picnic said: 'A massive thank you to over 1,000 people who joined us for our Teddy Bears' Picnic at our Open Farm last Thursday, The event was a sell-out and we were thrilled to see so much support for donkeys in Ireland.'
The Star
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
A free clinic for donkeys
A man walking his donkeys to a donkey clinic to get his animals a treatment in Addis Ababa. — Photos: AFP At a clinic in Ethiopia's capital, a donkey is complaining as a vet tries to trim his nails. Ethiopia is thought to have the most donkeys in the world – one in five of the global total according to the United Nations – and they form a vital part of the economy. So the Donkey Sanctuary, run by a British charity that operates around the world, has its work cut out at its free clinic near Merkato, Addis Ababa's vast open-air market. On a recent visit, several dozen donkeys were gathered in pens, some agitated and kicking their feet, while others eagerly pounced on food. Caregivers and veterinarians were taking turns treating injuries, colic and eye problems. Guluma Bayi, 38, walked more than an hour and a half with his two donkeys to reach the clinic. 'It has been three weeks since my donkeys became sick,' he said. 'One has a leg problem and the other has a stomach issue.' Like the others making the trip, Guluma relies heavily on his donkeys to make a living. He uses them to transport jerrycans of water to sell to his fellow villagers. 'After they became ill, I couldn't buy bread for my children,' he said. 'I begged a guy to bring me here.' After successful treatment, Guluma was able to go home with both donkeys. A veterinarian treating a donkey at the clinic. Ethiopia had around nine million donkeys in 2018. A donkey yourself The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation says Ethiopia had some nine million donkeys as of 2018. They play a major economic role in the East African country of around 130 million people, ploughing fields and transporting goods, offering a cheaper alternative to vehicles at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply. 'There is a proverb in Ethiopia: if you don't have a donkey, you are a donkey yourself,' said Tesfaye Megra, project coordinator for the Donkey Sanctuary, laughing. The charity operates in several regions across the country and opened its Addis Ababa centre in 2007. 'They are invaluable animals ... and they are suffering while they are providing different services to the community,' said Tesfaye. The daily life of donkeys is no picnic. Urban sprawl in the Ethiopian capital has made green spaces increasingly scarce. The loads they carry can be heavy, and many are beaten and badly treated. Another visitor to the clinic, Chane Baye, said he used his two donkeys to carry sacks filled with grain for clients across the city. They allow him to earn between 200 and 400 birr per day (RM6.35 and RM12.70) – not bad in a country where a third of the population lives below the World Bank's poverty line of US$2.15 (RM9.10) per day. The 61-year-old comes roughly every three months to have his donkeys checked – '... whenever they start limping or have a stomach problem,' he said. 'Before this clinic, we used traditional ways to treat them,' he added, referring in particular to nails roughly removed from the animals' legs with a knife. He is pleased his donkeys now get professional treatment for wounds and infections. Derege Tsegay, a vet at the sanctuary, performs a routine but unsavoury operation – inserting his gloved-up arm deep into a struggling donkey's rectum. Derege pulls out the large chunk of faeces that had accumulated in the animal's stomach. 'It happens often,' he said. A shortage of food in the city means donkeys eat whatever they find, often including plastic which can block their digestive system. It's not always pleasant, but he knows how important the work can be for local people. 'I am proud of what I am doing ... because I am trying to solve the problem of so many owners that rely on their donkeys,' he said with a smile. – AFP
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Couple banned from owning donkeys after neglect
A couple who admitted neglecting donkeys have been banned from keeping equine animals for five RSPCA said Andrew Semple and wife Samantha Semple-Thomas, from Holbury in Hampshire, left their animals to eat poor quality, mouldy hay and fend for themselves in thick donkey was found dead while five that were still alive were found by a vet to be underweight with poor coats and concerns about potential mud fever - a skin condition that causes sore, scabby areas of the legs and and Semple-Thomas, aged 54 and 51 respectively, were also each given an 18-month community order to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs. The RSPCA said the court was told in mitigation that the care of the donkeys declined after Semple-Thomas suffered a back injury and lost her father. They both also expressed "a high level of remorse", the charity said. RSPCA inspector Jo Story, who led the investigation, said: "Animals are reliant on owners to be given everything they need to survive, including an appropriate diet and suitable living conditions."We'd plead to anyone who is struggling to cope with the care of their pets to reach out and ask for the help they need."Sadly, these animals were badly neglected without food and homed within a space that severely compromised their health and welfare, and sadly led to the death of one donkey."The five surviving donkeys - Fire, Sooty, River, Rosie and Ruby - now live at the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Al Jazeera
27-05-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Photos: A free clinic for donkeys, vital to Ethiopia's economy
Ethiopia is believed to host the world's largest population of donkeys – one in five of the global total, according to the United Nations. The humble donkey is a cornerstone of the national economy, and the Donkey Sanctuary – a free clinic run by a British charity – is crucial in Addis Ababa. Set near Merkato, the city's sprawling open-air market, it provides care for animals that are often indispensable to their owners' livelihoods. Several dozen donkeys stand in enclosures at the clinic – some agitatedly kicking their legs, others hungrily tucking into their food. Caregivers and veterinarians move from animal to animal, treating a range of ailments including injuries, colic and eye conditions. Among them is Guluma Bayi, 38, who had walked more than an hour and a half, leading his two donkeys to the clinic. 'It has been three weeks since my donkeys became sick,' said Guluma. 'One has a leg problem and the other has a stomach issue.' Like many, Guluma depends on his donkeys for his livelihood, using them to transport jerrycans of water for sale in his community. 'After they became ill, I couldn't buy bread for my children,' he said. 'I begged a guy to bring me here.' According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Ethiopia was home to some nine million donkeys as of 2018. In this East African nation of approximately 130 million people, donkeys play a chief economic role, ploughing fields and transporting goods – offering a low-cost alternative to vehicles at a time when the price of fuel has soared. Another regular visitor, Chane Baye, earns his living by using his two donkeys to transport sacks of grain across the city for clients. His income can range from 200 to 400 birr per day (approximately $1.50 to $3) – a decent sum in a country where a third of the population lives below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 a day. The 61-year-old seeks out the clinic every three months or so – 'whenever they start limping or have a stomach problem', he said. 'Before this clinic, we used traditional ways to treat them,' he explained, describing how nails were once crudely removed from the animals' legs with a knife. He is grateful that his donkeys now have access to professional care for their injuries and infections. At the clinic, vet Derege Tsegay demonstrates the less glamorous side of his work by performing a routine but unpleasant procedure – reaching deep into a distressed donkey's rectum, clad in a rubber glove. Derege removes a large mass of stool that had accumulated in the animal's digestive tract. 'It happens often,' he remarked. A lack of adequate food in the city frequently leads donkeys to ingest whatever they find – including plastic bags – which can wreak havoc on their digestive health. Though the work is often challenging, Derege takes pride in what he does. 'I am proud of what I am doing … because I am trying to solve the problem of so many owners that rely on their donkeys,' he said with a smile.
