Africa

The Donkey Sanctuary has called for an immediate halt to the trade in donkey skins at the third annual Africa Animal Welfare Conference in Ethiopia.

In Harabafta Village, Ethiopia, Samuna’s three donkeys play a pivotal role in supporting her family. The lives of the people, along with their herd of livestock, depend on the hardworking donkeys to fetch water.

When a donkey is stolen to meet the demands of the skin trade, its owners must deal with the tragic loss of a beloved and essential part of their family. The Donkey Sanctuary recently met with the former donkey owners saying "No" to slaughterhouses in Kenya.

A passion for donkey welfare shared between The Donkey Sanctuary’s founder, Dr Elisabeth Svendsen, and Dr Bojia Duguma has made a lasting impact on donkeys and mules in Ethiopia.

Amid growing calls for the equid skin trade to halt in Nigeria, The Donkey Sanctuary spoke in Nigerian Parliament to support a Bill aimed at safeguarding the national herd.

On World Donkey Day (8 May), The International Coalition for Working Equids (ICWE) welcomed the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) statement calling for better protection of the welfare of donkeys at risk from the global skin trade.

Every day in the village of Bulbulla in Ethiopia, 10-year-old Margartu is responsible for collecting water supplies for her whole family – a task which is impossible without the help of their donkeys.

Donkeys are the driving force behind the gold mines, farms and markets of Tanzania. Thanks to funding from The Donkey Sanctuary, these hardworking animals are receiving the care and understanding they deserve.

A donkey named Tinishi (little one) was left in urgent need of treatment after being injured by a long-horned cow. Luckily, staff were on hand to operate swiftly and enable her recovery.

The Donkey Sanctuary is warning of a potential disease epidemic in West Africa, as Nigeria declares an outbreak of Equine Influenza, a highly contagious disease that affects all equines.