Improving Working Donkey Welfare in Tanzania

Our partner group, Tanzania Humane Charity (TAHUCHA), have expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to Animal Aid Abroad for empowering them to improve the plight of working donkeys in the Geita region of Tanzania. In this region, donkeys work in a wide range of environments, including kilns, households, markets, forests and mines.

During October, the TAHUCHA team treated 301 donkeys with various conditions, including wounds from beatings and cruel oxen yoke carts, overgrown premolar teeth, gingivitis, colic, lameness, hoof problems, worms and traumatic injuries due to accidents.

Along with veterinary care, the team educated 66 children and adults on the humane handling of working donkeys. TAHUCHA are determined to improve the welfare of donkeys in the region by encouraging owners not to mistreat their animals and training them to look after donkeys with care and compassion. It certainly pays for owners to provide proper care for their donkeys since, if a donkey becomes injured, the whole family will suffer. By also educating younger generations about animal welfare, it is hoped this will reduce the suffering of donkeys long-term by creating sustainable changes in people’s attitudes and behaviour.

There are three programs currently being run by TAHUCHA and supported by Animal Aid Abroad, including their New Model Carts Construction Program, the Donkey Clinic and the Sanctuary Program.

The New Model Carts Construction Program is held in Bukombe, where a cart welding workshop has been established. This program was set up in response to the issues associated with the use of oxen yoke carts, which cause pain and wounds in donkeys. Owners also tend to overload the carts and beat their poor animals. TAHUCHA are addressing these issues via the creation of humane carts, training donkey owners to limit loads and providing donkeys with medication as required. Currently, there are 35 humane carts in use since the program began in August this year.

The Donkey Clinic program now makes use of a vehicle called ‘Sylvia’, which is used both for on-site and outreach clinics. Having this vehicle has made it easier to complete regular veterinary clinics and to reach and help more donkeys and other small animals.

In the sanctuary run by TAHUCHA, badly injured or seriously ill donkeys are cared for and rehabilitated where possible. Some of the health issues seen in donkeys arriving at the sanctuary include impaction colic, tetanus, rabies, trypanasomiasis, lameness due to tendon exhaustion, tumours, lack of hoof care, teeth problems, fungal infection, babesiosis, anaemia, worm infestation and eye infections.

In some cases, the sanctuary provides a permanent home for donkeys who are no longer able to work. The sanctuary has just acquired 3 new long-term residents. Two are orphaned foals rescued from the Shinyanga slaughterhouse in October, while the other donkey was rescued in August after he was found exhausted in Bukombe. He has been named Mr Buble. Altogether, there are currently 17 adult rescued donkeys living permanently in the sanctuary, along with 11 foals rescued from the slaughterhouse. Their health and welfare is closely monitored; they enjoy grasses and maize and sleep in a warm stable. These individuals are now all safe and will live comfortably in the TAHUCHA sanctuary for the rest of their lives.

Although TAHUCHA are focussed on direct interventions on the ground currently, they are also planning to communicate with relevant authorities and the government in future to further address issues facing working donkeys.

Thank you to the wonderful Animal Aid Abroad donors who allow us to support TAHUCHA’s amazing efforts for working donkeys in this region of Tanzania.