Animal groups drill farmers on donkey care
Animal rights groups Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care for Animals (LSPCA) and United Kingdom-based Donkey Sanctuary have taught farmers in Lilongwe best practices for caring for donkeys.
The two organisations held veterinary clinics and facilitated hands-on training for donkey management at Mpingu on Thursday as part of commemorations marking World Donkey Day which falls on May 8.
LSPCA communications officer Gracious Chimbalanga said: “The events attracted donkey owners around Mpingu where 57 donkeys received medical care for the first time, which included castrations, dental care, deworming and wound treatments.”
World Donkey Day is celebrated globally to spread information about donkeys and how they impact human lives.
Chimbalanga said they decided to commemorate the day through funding from Donkey Sanctuary because the animal plays a critical role in rural community’s transportation sector.
“In rural Malawi and increasingly on the outskirts of the city, donkeys are used to doing the jobs of trucks and tractors. Transporting goods using donkeys makes it possible for underprivileged families to earn a living,” he said.
Group village head Kaunkhandwe hailed the organisations for the veterinary care and management training.
“We are pleased that our donkeys have received free veterinary attention which is rarely present here in Mpingu,” he said
