Donkeys provide livelihoods for millions of families in low-income countries, yet suffer from overwork, inadequate nutrition, and lack of veterinary care — making donkey welfare a development as well as animal welfare issue.
Donkey welfare intersects development, culture, and animal welfare in ways that require nuanced approaches. Removing donkeys from communities that depend on them for economic survival is neither ethical nor practical — but ignoring the suffering of overworked, undernourished animals is equally unacceptable. The most effective donkey welfare programs provide accessible veterinary services, owner education in harness fitting and hoof care, and community-level support that improves animal conditions while maintaining the economic value of the human-donkey relationship. The emerging ejiao skin trade represents a different and more acute crisis requiring demand-side reduction.