Tikobane Trust in Zimbabwe are reducing harness wounds and educating the community

Partner group Tikobane Trust in Zimbabwe have sent through an update on their recent activity:

"The hot season in Zimbabwe has left many animals dead from the heat weave and a shortage of water. With a shortage of water most owners are preferring to give water to their cattle while the donkeys are left to fend for themselves.

With the rain season quickly approaching donkeys are at high risk from being struck and killed by vehicles on the road side while trying to collect water. We have engaged in an effort to put 500 neck reflectors on donkeys in Magoli, Makwandara, Mabale and Dingani. We have thus far managed to put 137 reflectors on donkeys and we seek to reach our goal of 500 donkeys by end of November.

We visited Sianyanga Village where we treated harness wounds and de-wormed 45 donkeys. Most of the donkeys have never been de-wormed, this was their first time. Most farmers confessed that their donkeys were not gaining any weight, even during the rain season, which our vets concluded was due to internal worms.

Donkey friendly harnesses have improved the welfare of donkeys in most areas that we have been working in. We have managed to manufacture and distribute 67 pairs of harnesses and counting. We have noted healing and reduced wounds in donkeys that wear the improved harness. A donation of old conveyor belts from ex mine workers are helping us to manufacture these harnesses. After exchanging the old harness with the new donkey friendly one, the old harnesses are collected by us, so they are no longer used.

We have been working hard during this hot season to stop harness wounds in working donkeys. Although fire wood demand is dropping due to rocket stoves, there are still a lot cases of donkeys with harness wounds. During the month of October we treated 24 donkeys with serious harness and cart wounds. Using the improved harness is the best and most effective way of dealing with and solving the problem of harness wounds.

One of our greatest achievements is seeing Torchy recovering from his hyena attack wounds. Torchy has touched the lives of many people in the community. Usually when donkeys have such wounds as Torchy had, they are either sold for feeding wild animals or are left to die. With Torchy, the community has learnt that with care and proper medication we can save more animals' lives.

The Tikobane/Animal Aid Abroad Donkey and Animal Sanctuary exists not only to treat and care for donkeys and other working animals but to teach proper animal welfare and empathy towards animals.

During the Month of October we treated 123 donkeys, and rescued 2 dogs that were abused and ill treated. We thank Animal Aid Abroad for supporting us to improve the welfare of working animals in Zimbabwe."