Middle Atlas souk: Morocco

Without this souk families from up to 40km away would struggle to make ends meet; their families would suffer and so would their animals. The souk is huge, sprawling chaotically over a vast hillside. There are a few cars dotted about and a couple of trucks, but the first thing a visitor notices is the sheer numbers of donkeys. They are everywhere, in the donkey equivalent of a car park, lined up in the shade, picking at the grass throughout the souk and spread across the hillside.

Without these animals this souk could not function, without the souk the animals would suffer. The dependency of owner and animal is a rich connection and often overlooked in the developed world. But here in the foothills of the Middle Atlas people intrinsically understand that relationship – a fact evidenced by the concerned looks of the owners as they bring their animals to our vets.

The vets chat with the owners and the whole process feels informal. But the vets are carrying out an extremely well-oiled operation. From blood parasite treatment, to wound management, they analyse and treat cuts and bruises, infections and harness and bit issues - each case is different to the next. It’s here in rural Morocco, in the heat of the midday sun, that the importance of SPANA’s work can be seen. SPANA isn’t just a free vet service - we’re a part of the souk and a part of people’s lives.

Watch the video to see more.

Aaron Lamb

Digital Communications and Web Editor