Hundreds of millions of donkeys, mules and horses support livelihoods across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Their welfare is inseparable from the prosperity of the families who depend on them.
Working equids in the Global South are frequently invisible to mainstream animal welfare advocacy, yet their welfare situation is among the most urgent anywhere. Animals work long hours carrying heavy loads, often with poorly fitted harnesses causing painful wounds, and may go days without adequate water or rest. The communities that depend on them often lack access to basic veterinary knowledge or supplies. Community animal health worker programmes that train local people to recognise and treat common conditions have proven highly effective and cost-efficient. The collapsing donkey population in Africa — driven by demand for donkey-skin products — represents both a welfare catastrophe and a livelihood crisis for some of the world's poorest farming families.