More Donkeys Benefitting from Veterinary Care in Zambia

With your generous support, the Zambezi Working Donkey Project (ZWDP) exceeded their target for August and treated 300 donkeys! August was one of their busiest months so far this year, with the number of donkeys treated and owners receiving support increasing by 54% and 50% respectively.

With your ongoing support, they are well on their way towards achieving a Zambia where working donkeys are free from suffering and treated with compassion.

During August, 300 donkeys were dipped, 166 were dewormed and 42 received wound treatments. The team conducted two mobile vet clinics and field work programs in eight villages, which involve follow-up visits and field check-ups. Last month, 85 donkey owners were educated and 10 inhumane ox yokes were replaced with humane harnesses.

Mobile Clinics

ZWDP’s mobile clinics were conducted in Mabonga, Chunga and Wiketo villages. During these mobile clinics, dipping and deworming took place to prevent disease. Donkeys presented with a variety of ailments and received appropriate treatments and medications.

In addition to these treatments, carts attached to cruel ox yokes were modified to fit humane harnesses. This relieves much suffering for working donkeys. The ZWDP team also educated 12 donkey owners on the dangers of neglecting their animals or engaging in animal abuse. Fifteen children were present at the mobile clinic in Mabonga, so they were also included in educational sessions.

During their field checks, the team were saddened to discover five donkeys who were stolen and worked in an abusive way in Muchinga village. These donkeys were left by their owner to wander around by themselves in search of food. The matter was brought to the attention of the traditional leadership and the parties involved agreed to compensate the donkey owner.

The ZWDP team was present at the first mediation to record the offenders and the donkey owner for future reference. They plan to engage all donkey owners in the area again to emphasise the importance of animal welfare and highlight penalties associated with animal theft.

Muchinga village is not the only area with problems involving donkey neglect, theft and abuse. In Maunga, the ZWDP team have faced similar challenges. They first visited Maunga early this year and discovered donkeys were being left alone to find food and water until they are needed for work.

The team returned to the village in August to hold an educational session on providing proper care for donkeys. Nineteen adults and six children attended, and each person received a copy of the flyer, ‘How to care for your donkey’.

Rescues

In July, Lillian - a donkey who was rescued last year for being worked while pregnant - was found at Libuyu market, once again being worked pregnant. Another donkey called Chester was working alongside Lillian. Chester belongs to the same owner and had only recently been released back into their care after being rescued and treated for a terrible wound on his shoulder. Unfortunately, he was back working with another shoulder wound.

The owner’s son was working both these vulnerable donkeys but refused to release them back into ZWDP’s care. The team called the police for help but they could not come to their immediate aid. Instead, a call out to the owner was issued, demanding Chester and Lillian return for rehabilitation at ZWDP’s shelter, Maramba Farm.

The family in question have committed animal welfare offences in the past, so the police spoke to them again and gave them a final warning. Lillian had just given birth to her foal at the time and will be monitored regularly. Chester was released into ZWDP’s care and will not be returned until the team are convinced that the warning from the police will change the family’s behaviour towards donkeys.     

In addition to Chester, there have been two other rescues recently. The first rescue is a donkey called Culture, who was hurt on her lower back side by a sharp object. She was injured while feeding from a vegetable patch. The owner was not keen on reporting the case to the police because the offender was unidentified. Culture has been living at the Maramba Farm sanctuary and has since developed a nice scab over the deep wound.

The second rescue was a donkey called Mbwede. She was rescued from Chunga village and has a mass on her lower jaw, which is suspected to be a sarcoid. She is now at Maramba Farm and will undergo a surgical excision of the mass to prevent complications.    

Maramba Farm Sanctuary

The rescue herd at Maramba Farm has grown and now houses 19 donkeys. All 19 donkeys were recently dipped and 18 were dewormed. The herd was also vaccinated against rabies as one of the measures to enhance protection of the donkeys, visitors and ZWDP staff from this fatal zoonotic disease.

The rescue herd were lucky enough to be visited by tourists who were kind enough to bring along some treats. This initiative helps ZWDP raise additional funds to do their essential work, and pats and cuddles from visitors enhances the rescued donkeys’ lives. 

On a sad note, dear old White passed away last month after suffering from an oesophageal obstruction. She was drooling, gagging, having difficulties swallowing and discharging feed and water through her nostrils. White was on supportive treatment to try and clear the obstruction, but she sadly passed away from aspiration pneumonia. Rest in peace, White. She will be greatly missed.