Naka’s excruciating bite wound

Naka was grazing outside of a local market when she was attacked by another donkey. The nine-year-old animal had been patiently waiting for the return of her owner, Neima, who relies on Naka to transport firewood to market. Her owner could hear Naka’s cries of distress from across the field and came running. When she arrived, she found Naka’s shoulder covered in blood – the result of a deep bite from another aggressive donkey.  

In this region of Mali, life is almost impossible without the help of a donkey or horse. Not only does Naka help transport firewood for Neima’s community, she also carries water and works the land on the family’s farm. With miles of open, arid scrubland standing between Neima and the nearest village, the 60-year-old woman considers her trusty donkey a lifeline.

Naka’s wounds were washed clean and soothed with a calming antiseptic ointment which immediately alleviated her discomfort. The team ran blood samples to confirm the extent of the infection and put her on a course of antibiotics. They then explained to Neima how to keep the wound clean while it healed, advising her to stop all work until the wound had healed over. 

Naka rested at home while the antibiotics worked to fight the infection. Within days, she was already recovering her energy and could move more comfortably. Neima was deeply grateful for the intervention, explaining: 

‘Since I started coming to SPANA, my problems with the donkeys have almost disappeared.’ 

As always, your continued support means animals like Naka don’t suffer from easily treatable illnesses and injuries. Thank you for all that you do for working animals around the world.