By Rachna Rishi (Assistant Information and Communications Officer)
11 Jul 2011

We set out to visit Latur in Maharashtra to look at the potential demand for Brooke India’s services and our role in improving equine welfare.

Latur, in the south west of India, is home to the Bhoj Samaj – a donkey-owning community with more than 5000 animals.

On arrival, initial impressions were heartbreaking. Herds of pale, haggard and malnourished donkeys roamed the busy streets, many of them limping.

Terrible conditions

Large groups crossing the busy streets were causing traffic jams and all of them appeared to be scavenging rubbish just to stay alive.

We immediately investigated further.

We soon discovered that the Bhoi Samaj rely on their donkeys to earn a living – but only for around half the year

Between November and June, the donkeys toil ceaselessly in the neighbouring brick kilns. But come the rainy season in July, the Bhoi Samaj move back to the outskirts of the city. 

During this off season, the donkeys don’t earn any money for their owners. They don’t have the space to house them and cannot afford to feed them. As a result the animals are let loose to fend for themselves.

Left on their own

Forced to rummage through garbage heaps for food and abused by the public for being traffic hazards, they survive without proper food, medical care or shelter.

Many of these animals meet a miserable end. Some fall prey to colic due to eating plastic bags and containers, while others meet a tragic end in road accidents.

In order to understand more, we interviewed community leaders and found that during the off season, owners live on the income earned from the kilns.

Animals are let loose – though families track their movements – because fodder costs between 50 to 70 INR or US$1 to US$2 per day or up to 13,000 INR or around US$300 for six months. 

Unsurprisingly, as savings from the kiln work dry up, owners are left with no option but to start selling their animals one after the other.

Just before the brick kilns are back in action, the owners purchase new donkeys from the Malegaon Equine Fair, with loans from money lenders on unimaginably high rates of interest. This vicious cycle goes on year after year. 

Brooke India responds

In early July 2011, the Brooke set up the first two response units in the area: one in Latur and one in Nanded, a city about 140km to the north.

The Brooke now has established teams of vets, veterinary assistants and project managers, providing first aid and treatment to donkeys.

In the longer term, our aim is to work with owners to reduce the suffering of these poor animals.

Early discussions with community leaders looked at the possibility of selling the donkeys to local farmers at the end of the brick kiln season or, with the support of the local authorities, to provide shelters with water and food, where stray donkeys can be kept.

We hope our intervention does not only change the attitude of owners towards their animals but also ensure the animals get the possible life. Watch this space.

More about our work in India