Getting the Job Done - Hundreds of Donkeys Saved!

As many AAA supporters would be aware, we have been on a mission since December 2020 to save approximately 5000 innocent donkeys who were abandoned following closure of a donkey skin slaughterhouse in Shinyanga, Tanzania. This abattoir previously supplied the Chinese market with donkey skins and led to enormous numbers of donkeys being sourced and stolen from various regions in Tanzania. Out of the 5000 stranded donkeys, many were weak or sick, some were pregnant and orphaned foals were sadly all too common. With thousands of donkeys in urgent need of food, water, veterinary care and relocation to a safe environment, Animal Aid Abroad stepped in to support our partner group, Tanzania Humane Charity (TAHUCHA).

Hungry donkeys waiting to be fed…

Thanks to our generous donors, we were able to send emergency funds to ensure quality feed and fresh water could be delivered immediately to the starving donkeys. TAHUCHA initially prioritised feeding pregnant donkeys, young foals and weak or sick donkeys in poor condition. They also commenced veterinary care for donkeys with conditions such as rotten hooves, injuries, abscesses and weakness.

Additionally, TAHUCHA have been busy expanding their already-established sanctuary in Bukombe so they will have the capacity to host hundreds of extra donkeys without homes. Animal Aid Abroad provided the funding required to purchase an additional 10 acres of land and fencing, which is all thanks to our incredible donors. TAHUCHA have already welcomed 162 donkeys and, now that they have finished building a new stable, trough and water tank, they are ready to accommodate another 200 rescued animals this week.

One particularly kind donor, Nigel Madeley, has had the new donkey stable named in his honour!

Many of the donkeys arriving at the sanctuary will require treatment and rehabilitation for injuries, such as this poor fellow who has a wounded hoof. He will likely never work again but can now remain safely within the Animal Aid Abroad - TAHUCHA donkey sanctuary. Other donkeys who can be rehabilitated will be absorbed back into the Bukombe area where TAHUCHA operates. Here, the team will be able to closely monitor their progress and wellbeing on an ongoing basis.

Although many donkeys have now been translocated from the Shinyanga abattoir back into surrounding villages and markets, hundreds of other donkeys were recently discovered and are in dire need of rescuing. These unfortunate donkeys have been kept hidden away by donkey skin traders in extremely unsuitable enclosures, where they have been forced to stand continuously in deep mud.

Many donkeys have now left the abattoir grounds and been returned to surrounding villages.

These poor donkeys have been standing in mud for weeks.

AAA are determined, along with the dedicated TAHUCHA team, to rescue these additional donkeys as soon as possible from their current unsanitary conditions. They desperately need to be relocated to a drier area and receive adequate food, water and veterinary care.

One of the first donkeys to be rescued from her mud enclosure.

We remain hopeful we can continue our rescue mission to assist the last of these innocent donkeys and save them from starvation, dehydration and illness. We are so humbled and grateful for the avalanche of support we have received from our extremely kind donors… immense thanks to everyone who has assisted and made our rescue mission a resounding success.

These donkeys have been rescued from the abattoir and have just arrived at the sanctuary.