An estimated 40-50 million donkeys worldwide are used as working animals, often in low-income countries where veterinary care and welfare awareness are limited. Improving donkey welfare requires targeted interventions.
Working donkeys in low-income settings often experience chronic welfare deficits that owners lack the resources or knowledge to address. The stoic nature of donkeys means suffering is frequently unrecognised until disease is advanced. Effective interventions combine accessible veterinary care, farriery services, harness design improvement, and owner education delivered through community programmes. Tourism contexts present different challenges: inadequate regulation of tourist animal use in many destinations means donkeys carry heavy loads in hot conditions without adequate rest or water. Consumer choices about animal-based tourism activities matter directly to donkey welfare.