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By Karen Pesjak (Programme Advisor for the Middle East)
23 Dec 2010
It is 6am, I feel cold and wrap myself deeper into my jacket, feeling heavy hearted when watching the first mules and donkeys slowly trotting to the Hosanna grain market, their bodies steaming in the cold morning air, obviously exhausted from their long trip. I can hear the animals’ heavy breathing before they actually become visible, appearing on top of the hill on their way down to the market.
It was the first time that I had the opportunity to visit the timber and grain market in Hosanna, in the Southern Nations and Nationalities Region of Ethiopia (SNNPR), 230 km from the country’s capital of Addis Ababa. The grain being sold at the market is teff, an Ethiopian staple used to make flat-bread. Selling it earns the market’s farmers only about £2.50 profit each but it’s the difference between survival and destitution.
Donkeys and mules are now standing fully loaded, without water or fodder, waiting for first customers. It is a couple of hours later at the grain market, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes as a mule suddenly collapses onto the ground just in front of me. It seems completely exhausted, makes no movement anymore and shows no sign of getting up again. People seem not to react and continue with their business.
Ayele and Nega, my colleagues from Brooke Ethiopia tell me that mules and donkeys are used to carry grain and timber, especially mules as they are stronger and can carry a heavier load over long distances. The animals have to walk up to 30 km one way to reach the market and then back again to their villages. They are not fed or watered while at the market nor is the grain unloaded. The animals have to stand and wait for hours in the heat, still carrying their loads with their tongues ‘tied down’ to stop them biting.
Many of the donkeys and mules collapse from exhaustion once they reach the market so life expectancy is very low as they are overworked and ill-treated. However, it is important to set this against the continued poverty in Ethiopia, which means that people are left with fewer and fewer choices to meet their families’ most basic needs. The animals are the people’s only way of transporting produce to the market so they load as much as they can onto their backs to make at least some profit.
However, on this one Wednesday morning, while appreciating the huge livelihood pressure people are struggling with, it was heartbreaking and almost unbearable to watch the mule lying on the ground, and all other animals at the market, which were in poor health, exhausted and suffering from the heat, while their owners continued trading.
However, the team told me that the situation has significantly improved since the Brooke has started working with the animal owners and users at the timber and grain market. And one of the greatest changes is that animals are now unloaded while waiting at the market.
And it was true – when observing the market situation more closely, I could see that many of the animals – despite their exhaustion – were unloaded and ‘socialising’ with other animals there. This is a big step forward, given that the main reason why owners don’t unload their mules is that they are afraid their animals might get stolen. It shows the impact of Brooke Ethiopia’s dedicated work with animal owners, users and their communities on raising their awareness and improving equine welfare.
A major break-through now, is that the regional government of Ethiopia is co-funding 50% of the construction of a stable and has allocated a free plot of land. Weeks and weeks of negotiating has proved fruitful and Brooke Ethiopia has achieved a small miracle - to get the government on board and to gain their commitment to supporting equine welfare, which is a fantastic basis for our future work in this region of Ethiopia.
My trip to the grain and the timber market has been a memorable experience and I won’t forget the look in the eyes of the mule, lying on the ground.
The enthusiasm and great spirit of the Ethiopia team is tremendously encouraging and gives hope for the mules, donkeys and horses in future.
Your comments
Rosemary Marshall I am so glad that the Brooke is working in Senegal and Ethiopia. The need, which I have seen for myself is overwhelming.
Denise Welsh I long for the day when all equine and donkey can work in a safe and pain free world, I thankyou for your work and long may it continue
melanie You'd have to be very hard not to read this with tears in your eyes. I don't believe humans always know they're treating animals cruelly, it's ignorance, and so the Brooke's existence is so imperative in such countries where education and simple steps can not only make a world of difference but save the lives of their precious equines, and so aid their financial future. As for the government co-operation that does seem a miracle, but it's only through the efforts and tenacity of the Brooke which can achieve such fantastic results - all power to you!!
Wendy McMullan I suppose the owners of these animals, probably because of severe poverty, just don't perceive them as fellow creatures needing rest and food and water. -I am so glad The Brooke is reaching these poor people and explaining to them how their animals will give so much more if they are properly tended. Merry Christmas to the vets and anyone else involved in this vital work.
john l have read your entire blog with a mixture of great sadness and some hope for the future, but what help was provided to the donkey that fell down with utter exhaustion?
Elizabeth Webster Let's hope 2011 will bring many improvements in the welfare and treatment of donkeys and mules everywhere-all good wishes to the vets and everyone involved in supporting Brooke in this very important work.
Mike French heart wrenching to read.I so much wish the people working for the Brooke sucess in their efforts to help these gentle animals.
Thank you Brooke and your staff for making these significant improvements in the health and welfare of these animals
did you or Brooke help the mule?
Iris these stories make me cry so badly that i want to fly there and be good to all the poor and sweet animals there. I am also very happy with Brooke and hope that their work may grow and result every day. Thank you so much!
I am very saddened by Karen's report and can't help wondering what became of this particular mule? I am only heartened by news that The Brooke's efforts clearly are clearly slowly but surely making a difference. Keep up the excellent work. Unfortunately I agree that a lot of what happens is probably down to ignorance than intended cruelty. I hope for the day when animals will be treated with dignity all over the world and cared for in the manner that they truly deserve.
jane riva I do hope that poor little mule was helped. The next step would be to put up food, water, blacksmith and shelter stations at these market places for the animals to rest and eat. Is this being done. Keep up your good work.
Carol This poor little donkey was not so fortunate as the traditional bible donkey we all think of at Xmas.
It should not have collapsed and maybe died.
World Poverty exists at Xmas in Humans and Animals.
We should all think about this poor Donkey as we buy our must have expensive gifts....his life was sacrificed for just a sack of cheap grain.
DONATE £5 month to Brooke NOW x x
Elfie Bonke I know that the Brooke makes a difference. I strongly believe in this organization. Keep up the good work in 2011.
Karen Pesjak Thank you very much for your great concern and interest in the Brooke’s work.
The mule that collapsed recovered well. When it fell, the Brooke Ethiopia team immediately talked to the mule’s owner and asked him to help the animal. Our vet checked on the mule’s health condition and it got up on its feet again, was unloaded by its owner and moved to a place in the shade to recover.
Our colleagues in Ethiopia regularly visit the market, monitoring the situation. Animal owners know them very well and have an established a good relationship with the Brooke team.
Owners are much more willing now to unload their animals and to provide them with shade during a hot market day.
It is a gradual process, and changing attitudes and behaviour is a very challenging task, given particularly the difficult living situation in Ethiopia.
Our team reports increasingly significant improvements in animal handling and management practices of owners and users, and animal owners respect the support and advice provided by Brooke vets.
Ewa Unloading the animal is one thing,
but do they get WATER and some food at the market? The stories like these always make me cry. Thank you Brooke for helping those poor animals!
lisa OMG my heart is breaking thank GOD for people like you.You restore my faith in humanity.Keep up the good work and GOD BLESS you and the animals.
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