Coal mine Donkeys of Pakistan

Last year (2015) Brooke uncovered the plight coal mine donkeys in Pakistan. This documentary produced by Brooke Pakistan shows the welfare issues both the donkeys and their owners face and what Brooke is doing to help.

There are over 4.7 million horses, donkeys and mules in Pakistan. These animals are involved in a variety of work from transporting people and goods, to working in brick kilns and agriculture. The main welfare issues include work-related injuries, overloading, firing, slit nostrils, lameness, worm infestation and colic.

Nearly a quarter of Pakistan's population live on less than a dollar a day (equivalent to £0.63), surviving either by farming or producing major exports such as textiles, rice, cotton and leather.

There are about 11,000 brick kilns across Pakistan, where between 750,000 and 900,000 people work alongside 115,000 animals to support their families. The brick kilns are tortuous environments of extreme temperatures, lack of shade, difficult terrain and overloading which can cause suffering for horses, donkeys and mules. Disease and injuries are common.

Brooke Pakistan, an affiliate of Brooke with 240 employees, delivers veterinary and welfare services to working equines through a network of 32 Community Equine Welfare Teams (CEWT) and five Equine Welfare Centres (EWC) in 30 districts within the provines of KPK, Punjab and Sindh.

Our partner in Pakistan is the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO).

We work in over 250 brick kiln sites to alleviate suffering and bring about change. Coal mines are an equally tough environment for donkeys and their owners; hot, dusty and dangerous. Again, we're working with owners to bring about changes in attitudes and technical knowledge to improve welfare.