Positive Outcomes for Donkeys in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, partner group Matabeleland Animal Rescue & Equine Sanctuary (MARES) have reported on a successful November. They held their monthly outreach veterinary clinic in the rural villages of Dete and Nyanyadzi, treating a total of 121 donkeys for eye infections, wounds, deworming, hoof problems, fleas and ticks, and other conditions. They also rescued 2 donkeys in need and issued 60 humane harnesses to improve the welfare of working donkeys in these regions.

During November, the team also adapted or built 15 lighter carts, which lessens the load for working donkeys. Additionally, they provided 50 cart reflectors to help prevent road traffic accidents and keep both donkeys and their owners safe. One hundred and five reflective neck bands and bell straps were also given to working donkeys as additional safety measures and to protect them from hyena attacks.

The brilliant news is that, due to MARES’ presence in these two regions, incidences of cruelty have dropped dramatically and donkeys with harness wounds are no longer being seen in these areas. These positive results demonstrate just how successful MARES’ programs have been for improving the welfare of working donkeys in Dete and Nyanyadzi. Due to the success of their outreach clinics in these villages, MARES are planning to expand their reach in 2022 to also hold vet clinics in Beit Bridge, Gwanda and Victoria Falls East.

Along with this planned expansion, MARES are in the process of developing two exciting new projects to be implemented in 2022. The team recently put forward an idea to Zimbabwe Prison Services to teach soon-to-be-released inmates how to make humane harnesses for donkeys. The idea has been accepted and MARES are planning to commence this prison project in January, 2022. Ensuring there is sufficient conveyor belting available to create approximately 120 new harnesses per month will be the biggest challenge. This is the predicted number of humane harnesses that will be required for donkeys in the new regions MARES will be visiting in 2022.

The other new project MARES are developing involves converting existing 2-wheel carts into 4-wheel carts. These conversions will hugely benefit working donkeys, who will no longer need to carry the full weight of scotch carts on their necks. MARES are planning to find steel companies to sponsor this project, since the angle iron they use to convert the carts is quite costly.

Along with their veterinary outreach clinics and development of these two new projects, MARES are also continuing to run their sanctuaries for working animals. They are hoping to source further funding to continue improving their sanctuaries in the new year.

AAA are very pleased to support MARES’ ambitious new projects, along with their current vital programs for working donkeys in Zimbabwe. We will keep you posted on what they achieve in 2022!