Condition of Working Donkeys in Pakistan and Donkey Welfare
Condition of Working Donkeys in Pakistan and Donkey Welfare. Brooke Pakistan is working on the donkeys. Policy makers should focus the animal welfare. They should also make laws for the welfare of donkeys and other working animals. Besides the animals, government should also focus the owners of the animals.
عائدہ انجم کی خصوصی تحریر
محکمہ لائیوسٹاک اور بروک ہسپتال کی جانب سے بھٹہ مزدوروں کے لئے تربیتی ورکشاپ ک انعقاد
ون ہیلتھ کیلئے ویٹرنری ہیلتھ میں کام کی اہمیت، بروک پاکستان کی جانب سے پالیسی بریف کا اجراء
Working donkeys are indispensable to human life. Donkeys have played an important role in the development of human civilization. With approximately 50.5 million donkeys worldwide, it benefits approximately 600 million people and plays an important role in the lives of poor and vulnerable communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, research has not yet quantified the value of working donkeys to the overall economies of LMICs. This may be the reason why their importance in animal welfare policy at the government level has often been overlooked. As a result, little is done to protect the welfare of the donkey and the donkey-owned community.
Population and Uses of Donkeys in Pakistan
According to FAO 2020 data, Pakistan has 6.1 million working livestock (horses, donkeys, mules), of which 5,517,000 are donkeys. In Pakistan, donkeys are used in a variety of rural, suburban and urban environments for agriculture, transportation, garbage picking and coal mining transport. Donkeys are also used for cargo handling of household items and construction works.
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A Major Welfare Concern for Working Donkeys
Donkeys are essential for the transportation of goods, but overloading is a major concern for the welfare of donkeys working around the world. Research shows that 87.4% of donkeys carry more than 50% of body weight ratio (BWR) and 25.3% of donkeys carry more than 90% BWR.
Overloaded donkey carts are a common sight on the streets of Lahore. Carts are loaded far beyond the capacity of animals, especially in iron stores and markets for blast furnaces, scraps, grains and vegetables in different markets.
دنیا میں گھوڑوں کی نسلیں، پاکستان میں صورتحال اور گھوڑے کی ارتقائی تاریخ
Working Donkeys in Coal Mining Operations
In the Chakwal district, about 8,500 donkeys work in about 500 mines. Few mines have mechanical carts to transport coal, so miners and their animals work day and night to transport coal from a depth of 5,000 feet through narrow tunnels to the mine.
Miners move away from their families to the mine and rely entirely on the income they earn from using donkeys, earning about £1.50 a day. In addition, workers and donkeys have to carry away trash and throw it into a huge construction site. However, this outdoor work is a welcome rest from inside the mine.
Thick clouds of coal cause breathing problems and narrow tunnels are a regular cause of animal accidents.
گدھے کا عالمی دن، آغاز پاکستان سے ۔۔ اہمیت، خصوصیات اور ویلفیئر
Strength and Working Ability of Donkeys
Donkeys are often chosen over horses because of their excellent weight-to-force ratio. Donkeys can pull more than horses of the same size. However, they still suffer from similar illnesses, and overuse can lead to long-term problems. If the donkey cannot work, the owner and his family lose their income.
Long Working Hours and Poor Management
Donkeys work long hours and the schedule for donkey work in Pakistan is currently undocumented. Despite their important role, these animals are bred in their pristine condition. It is a pity that these animals are not well cared for, which reduces their traction. This leads to further abuse if the animal is forced to work beyond its capacity.
Donkey Welfare Issues
At work, they are overworked, malnourished and abused. Millions of them have suffered neck injuries and bruises from whiplash and hot iron brands. Even shoeing and castrations are done following ancient methods. The carts on which they are installed are inefficient and painful.
Moreover, beatings in transit, rough handling and exposure to bad weather, neglect of wounds, inadequate feeding and watering, frequent use of spike sticks, careless handling, overcrowding, overload, and long transport times without proper feeding and watering can not only stress the animal, but can also cause serious injuries that can sometimes be fatal.
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Improving the Performance of Working Donkeys
This inexhaustible source of energy is being ignored in developing countries like Pakistan. The performance of these animals can be significantly improved by careful task planning, taking advantage of the cool hours of the day, and the use of improved equipment and machinery.
Need for Strategic Government Action
However, there is a dire need for urgency and state-led strategic and sustainable measures to be taken for the welfare of working animals. Government departments and ministries, including national and provincial livestock departments and waste control authorities, must join hands and place the welfare of working animals among their top priorities.
Working donkeys are an indispensable source of livelihood for millions of people, especially in developing countries. Despite their enormous contribution to agriculture, transportation, waste management, and mining sectors, they remain one of the most neglected working animals. Ensuring their welfare through improved management, proper equipment, better nutrition, and coordinated government policies is essential not only for animal welfare but also for protecting the livelihoods of the communities that depend upon them.
