Milestone Reached as Last Rubbish-Collecting Horses Retire

Gili Trawangan, a popular motor-free island destination in Indonesia, has long relied on horses to transport goods and collect waste. As tourism boomed, the amount of daily waste produced rose to 15–20 tonnes, placing an increasing burden on these working animals. 

Recognizing the ethical concerns, local authorities approved the use of petrol-powered motorbikes for rubbish collection in 2018. Since then, six of the ten horses previously used were gradually replaced by motorbikes. 

Thanks to the generous support of Animal Aid Abroad donors, two of the remaining horses - Rainbow and Mamba - have now been retired and rehomed at Stud Horse Riding and Rescue after over 15 years of service. Additionally, AAA has funded a second motorbike to replace the final two ponies, Agus and Chocolate, who will be retired to Horses of Gili. 

This marks a major milestone: the complete end of horse-powered rubbish collection on Gili Trawangan. It's a significant step forward in animal welfare and a testament to the power of compassionate sponsorship. Special thanks also goes to Red Parka (www.redparka.com.au/), who very generously and kindly donated towards this project.