Over 1000 Donkeys Assisted in Zambia

With help from your wonderful donations, Zambezi Working Donkey Project (ZWDP) in Livingstone, Zambia, helped just over 1000 working donkeys in May. This is an incredible 65.8% increase from last year! Your support is allowing many more donkeys to receive regular care and treatment.

In May, 318 donkeys were dipped for parasites, 127 were dewormed and ten donkeys received wound treatment. The ZWDP team conducted two mobile outreach clinics, along with field work programs, follow up visits and checkups in thirteen villages. Ninety-nine donkey owners were engaged and ten inhumane ox yokes were replaced with humane harnesses.

May 8th commemorated World Donkey Day and, this year, ZWDP celebrated by doing what they love. They held a mobile clinic where it all started six years ago in a village called Nyika Yesu. ZWDP were also accompanied by friends from ZAWS and vets from World Veterinary Services. It was encouraging for ZWDP to realise how far they’ve come since their first mobile clinic. Eleven owners attended, and 36 donkeys were dipped and nine were dewormed.

The second mobile clinic during May was held in a village called Chunga, where the team engaged eight owners and saw 27 donkeys. These donkeys were all dipped for parasites; thirteen were dewormed and one donkey received treatment for a long-standing abscess on her back.

One owner brought his donkey in on a scotch cart. The donkey was unable to walk the long distance to ZWDP’s mobile clinic after being run over in an accident during the early hours of the morning. Sadly, the donkey was in so much pain and could not be properly treated, so the kindest thing was to euthanise him.

After this sad event, ZWDP’s project supervisor educated other owners as to why donkeys should not be working when it is dark. He also spoke to owners about correctly fitting harnesses when their donkeys are attached to scotch carts to help prevent wounds. 

It is the end of rainy season in Zambia but the sanctuary, Maramba Farm, still has green grass to feed all of the rescued equines. The sanctuary animals have also been receiving supplemental horse feed and hay.

In more good news from Maramba Farm, Future’s foal - who started to lose fur on his neck two months ago - showed dramatic improvement after receiving topical treatments. Following topical anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antibacterial treatment, he has fully recovered and fur is growing back in the affected area. 

Additionally, the donkey rescued in April has fully recovered from a shoulder wound caused by improperly fitted harnesses. ZWDP have been in contact with the donkey’s owners, who have expressed gratitude for the team’s efforts. The family look forward to seeing their donkey again and are making plans to be reunited with him.    

Sepa, the donkey with a wound on his side due to carrying saddle packs, was returned to his owner last month following successful treatment.

With your ongoing support, organisations like ZWDP can continue treating, assisting and rescuing donkeys in need in Zambia. Thank you once again for your compassionate support and kind donations.