Improving donkey care in Kenya

Narok County in Kenya is home to the Maasai pastoral community, who rely heavily on donkeys for commercial and domestic purposes. The infrastructure in the area is poor, so animals are used to ferry water and goods such as charcoal, timber and farm produce, and are vital to the Maasai way of life. Sadly, many of the donkey welfare issues that arise here are because of local indigenous knowledge that relies heavily on myth.

So far, two training workshops have taken place; the most recent one was attended by over 50 participants. It covered topics such as donkey behaviour and handling which included a two hour practical session using local donkeys.

The success of the programme will be evaluated by monitoring changes to the condition and health of the donkeys and assessing behaviour changes of animal owners.