Farm Animals

Working Donkey Welfare in LMICs

An estimated 500 million working donkeys, mules, and horses provide essential livelihoods in low-and middle-income countries, often under severe welfare compromise.

Key Facts

Around 112 million donkeys globally are estimated to be working animals
Working equids in LMICs commonly suffer from wounds, lameness, and dental disease
Access to veterinary care is extremely limited in many rural LMIC contexts
Donkeys carry loads of up to 200% of their body weight in some regions
Organisations like The Donkey Sanctuary provide field veterinary programmes globally

Welfare Considerations

Working donkeys in LMICs often experience chronic suffering from wounds, overwork, and disease. Community-based veterinary outreach, harness fitting education, and livelihood support for owners create lasting welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Donate to organisations providing veterinary support for working equids in LMICs
Support fair trade and ethical sourcing from communities relying on working animals
Engage with the One Welfare framework linking human and working animal wellbeing
Advocate for working animal welfare to be included in international development goals
Learn about the extraordinary contribution of working equids to global food security