Presentation date
In remote, mountainous communities, people often rely on working equids to transport most of their supplies. Historically, in parts of the Himalayas in Nepal, mule trains and the social networks around them were considered part of the cultural institution. With the increasing development of road networks, however, those who rely on mules for their livelihoods face an uncertain future. In the Manaslu Valley, Nepal, we explore the role of pack mules in supporting the lives of local people, how the current road development is affecting the livelihoods of mule owners and other community members, and how the fragmentation of generational support networks may be impacting the human-equid relationship and, ultimately, mule welfare.