TAHUCHA Case Study - April 2022

In April 2022, the Tanzania Humane Charity (TAHUCHA) team received an emergency call from a donkey owner whose donkey was attacked by a hyena during the night while his donkey was tethered near the house compound. The owner of this donkey lives near Kigosi National Park where hyenas tend to come close to human living areas in order to hunt for small ruminants.

The TAHUCHA team attended the donkey and on examination, the tail of the donkey was hanging with severe bleeding. The animal was in great distress and as such had to be restrained with rope temporarily until anaesthetic took effect. After thorough clinical examination, the team controlled the bleeding from the tail, administered painkillers, cleaned and performed surgical removal of the tail that was hanging and antibiotics were administered to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Rabies vaccination was also administered after 14 days. The donkey was prescribed to rest from working until full recovery and has now recovered after 24 days since initial intervention.

TAHUCHA decided to build an enclosure in order to secure donkey from being attacked by wild animals and other stressful conditions during resting.

Another animal treated was a donkey with ox yoke wounds which were cleaned and wound healer oil was applied. The donkey was rested and hitched off from the yoke. TAHUCHA are providing education and taking these inhumane injured donkeys to sanctuary until a full recovery and follow up regularly.

TAHUCHA normally conduct clinics at brick kilns where they can meet with more donkeys during working hours and have noted that there are huge changes concerning ox yoke wounds. Recently, they are decreasing because donkey riders and owners are using plastic yokes instead of wooden yokes which help with reducing wounds.

TAHUCHA would like to extended their sincere acknowledgement to Animal Aid Abroad for being keen to help working donkeys in Bukombe district of northwest of Tanzania.