Donkey Working Welfare in Developing Economies

Working donkeys in low-income countries face severe welfare challenges, and targeted interventions by welfare organizations can transform their lives.

Key Facts

An estimated 40-50 million donkeys worldwide are used as working animals, primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
The Donkey Sanctuary estimates that over 80% of working donkeys in some regions show signs of preventable health problems
Common welfare issues include ill-fitting harnesses causing pressure sores, overloading, inadequate water and feed, and lack of veterinary care
Donkey welfare is closely linked to human livelihoods: healthy donkeys enable smallholder farmers to be significantly more productive
Community-based veterinary outreach programs, including farriery and harness-fitting training, produce rapid welfare improvements
The global demand for donkey hides for ejiao production in China has driven a welfare and conservation crisis, with millions slaughtered annually

Welfare Considerations

Working donkeys in lower-income contexts often experience chronic pain from harness sores, dental neglect, and overloading, yet they are essential to the livelihoods of their owners. Effective welfare interventions must be community-centered, culturally appropriate, and linked to demonstrable productivity benefits to gain uptake. Addressing the ejiao trade requires both policy intervention and international consumer awareness.

What You Can Do

Support the Donkey Sanctuary, SPANA, and other organizations providing working equid welfare programs
Oppose the ejiao trade by avoiding products containing donkey-hide gelatin
Advocate for international policy to regulate or ban the slaughter of donkeys for hide export
Learn about working animal welfare as a linked human-animal welfare issue in development contexts