How donkeys used as working animals in developing countries face significant welfare challenges and what effective welfare interventions look like.
Working donkeys in low-income countries carry the burden of agricultural and transport work for millions of families, yet their welfare is routinely neglected. The combination of cultural norms that regard donkeys as low-value tools, limited access to veterinary care, and pressure to maximise work output means that many working donkeys live with chronic pain from untreated lameness, harness wounds, and dental disease. The Donkey Sanctuary and other organisations have demonstrated that targeted education programmes — teaching communities about donkey behaviour, pain recognition, and basic first aid — produce measurable welfare improvements without requiring expensive infrastructure. These interventions also typically improve donkey performance, creating an economic benefit alongside the welfare gain.