Working donkeys in developing countries often face severe welfare challenges including overloading, inadequate hoof care, harness injuries, and limited veterinary access, affecting millions of animals globally.
Working donkeys in developing countries often experience chronic pain and exhaustion as their normal working life. Overloading causes musculoskeletal injuries. Harness wounds create open sores that attract flies and become infected. Without veterinary access, injuries go untreated and become chronic sources of pain. Donkeys are stoic animals that continue working despite significant pain, making welfare problems easy to overlook by owners who may not recognize behavioral signs of suffering. Welfare improvement requires building community awareness, providing accessible veterinary care, and addressing the economic constraints that drive overuse.