Innovative approaches for better health and welfare of working donkeys

The most recent official data points to there being a total of 60,842,839 donkeys and hybrids in the world (53,033,466 donkeys and 7,809,373 hybrids), with 96% and 93% of these equids being present in Lowand Middle-Income countries, respectively¹ .

These figures illustrate the importance of equids as working animals for millions of people worldwide, playing a key role as clean, accessible, and sustainable co-workers across numerous contexts, contributing to resilience, productivity, economic growth, and diversification^2,3.

The fundamental work carried out by these animals should always be framed within respect for their physical and mental limits, their dignity, the presence of adequate working conditions (including the use of appropriate harness and implements) and ensuring that their health and welfare are seen as priorities.

Unfortunately, these assumptions are still far from reality, due to socio-economic and cultural aspects affecting many owners and users of working equids worldwide. Owners and users demonstrate limited knowledge regarding welfare indicators, with a direct impact on the health and welfare of their animals. Such reality is exacerbated if we add the lack of qualified professionals who can provide health services to working equids and should have an active role in the education and awareness of owners. Selected data pointed that 90% of the world population of equids only receive 10% of the veterinary care⁴ , with working equids clearly suffering the most from this discrepancy.

Another aspect to consider is the lack of curricular content and subjects dedicated to donkeys and hybrids, in hundreds of universities around the world. In countries with some of the largest populations of working donkeys and hybrids, a lack of formal education for future professionals represents a real obstacle to ensuring that more working equids receive appropriate care.

As part of the new strategy, The Donkey Sanctuary (TDS) outlined some truly ambitious objectives for the next 5 years, both in terms of the number of people, and the animals that they intend to reach. Education is a crucial part in this process, through which values and knowledge acquired by TDS can be shared and applied with those who will benefit the most: donkeys and hybrids. For that, TDS developed The Donkey Academy, an innovative online education and knowledge sharing platform.

The talk will focus on the Donkey Academy University Partnerships and Alumni Programme, a joint programme between TDS and Equitarian Initiative launched in 2023 for Latin America, is in its early stage, but has the aim of creating strategic partnerships with universities from all over the world. The project includes the development of online courses directly focused on professionals / future professionals, in areas such as veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and animal husbandry, and will provide trainees with both theoretical and practical knowledge in different areas directly related to the health and welfare of working equids, so that can be incorporated into their daily / future professional work.

The Programme includes other educational, scientific, and technical actions and activities that create and disseminate knowledge about working equids, while raising their profile. Innovative pedagogical approaches, moving from didactic to participatory and problem-based learning, in line with modern academic curricula will be applied.

As main aims, this project intends to engage in university-level educational activities focused on promoting health and welfare of working equids; promote interest among the academic community about donkeys and mules, to raise their status; provide curricular support and fill the existing curricular gaps; and raise awareness about the unique nature and specific needs of working equids, mainly donkeys and hybrids. As a final aim, the Programme intends to promote a vibrant online Alumni community who regularly meet to share knowledge and problem solve issues from different cultural contexts.

Ensuring that future generations of professionals understand the value and importance of working equids in the world, at the most varied levels, and that they apply the acquired knowledge in favour of these animals, is certainly an effective way of contributing to their health and welfare and ensure that working equids live and work in the dignified conditions they so deserve.