An estimated 40 million donkeys worldwide provide essential labor to poor communities but often live in severe welfare deprivation.
Working donkeys provide irreplaceable labor to some of the world poorest communities, creating a welfare situation where improving animal conditions must be integrated with human poverty alleviation. Donkeys that are chronically overloaded, injured, starved, and denied water suffer intensely, but their owners often lack resources for veterinary care or better equipment. Welfare improvements require accessible veterinary services, affordable harness fitting, owner education, and economic approaches that make better care feasible.