- In Kashmir, the demand for donkeys as load-carrying animals has significantly declined with improved road connectivity and transport.
- In winters, donkeys that are essential for the seasonal farm work are abandoned on the streets by their owners to save the cost of fodder.
- Donkeys left on the streets in the harsh winter face a decline in health, limited access to food, water, shelter and grazing areas, and increased stress levels due to isolation, say veterinarians.
As winter sets in, in Kashmir’s Marhama village, donkeys that are essential for seasonal farm work in summer, are abandoned on streets. They rummage through a pile of waste in search of food. This is a common sight during winter, when farming season pauses and the farmers can’t afford the cost of feeding these animals.
For years, people in the villages of the Dachnipora belt of Anantnag district, where Marhama is also located, have owned donkeys and are recognised for them. The animal helps them transport goods from fields located on hilly terrains.
“These donkeys are indispensable during the summer. They work in the fields and help in transportation, making them the backbone of the community. However, many are abandoned when winter arrives,” said Bashir Ahmad Khan, a resident of Marhama, “as the cost of feeding them during the off-season becomes a burden.”
“I am 70-years old, and we have had donkeys since I was a child,” said Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, another resident of Marhama. “We inherited the animal from our ancestors, and it’s been this way since the beginning.” He added that donkeys have historically been a part of daily life for local residents. However, with increased road connectivity allowing people to reach even the previously unreachable orchards, and the availability of motorcycles and tractors, the reliance on these animals is decreasing.
Donkeys, human neglect and impacts
Manzoor Ahmad, a former donkey owner, recalled an incident, where a foal, born to an abandoned donkey, was killed by stray dogs near the highway. “The mother stood there helplessly, watching as the dogs took her baby away,” he said. “It was heartbreaking. People do not care for these animals. Once they are no longer useful to them, the donkeys are left to die.”
Some other residents of Marhama told Mongabay India that the braying of donkeys in distant fields and the sight of them being struck by vehicles are common occurrences, particularly during the winter.
Dr. Aijaz Ahmad Reshi, a veterinarian at a government-run animal care centre in the village, attributed the state of donkeys to negligence by humans as well. “People here mostly are associated with apple cultivation. They rely on the animal during the working months, and when the season is done, they abandon the donkeys. They find it hard to care for an animal that does not help them during the winter,” he added. When asked if the local centre receives cases of ill or injured donkeys, he said, “No. It’s one in a hundred cases. It’s negligible.”
Dr. Qazi Mudasir, another veterinarian from the Animal Husbandry Department Kashmir added that during harsh winters, donkeys left exposed to the elements face a rapid decline in health owing to freezing temperatures, limited access to food, water, shelter, and grazing areas. “Common health problems include malnutrition, dehydration, parasite infestations, foot problems, dog attacks and injuries from accidents,” he said, while also addressing the behavioural impact of isolation on these animals. “Donkeys are social animals and thrive in the company of other donkeys and human interaction, so isolation can exacerbate their stress levels.”
A decline in numbers
Jammu and Kashmir has the sixth highest population of donkeys in India. However, with evolving transportation needs and increased mechanisation across sectors, the demand for donkeys as load-carrying animals has significantly declined. This is also reflected in the sharp decline of the animal’s population. According to the 20th Livestock Census 2019, the population of the indigenous donkey in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 10,245 in 2019, a 44.55 % decline since 2012. In the Kashmir division, Anantnag has the maximum number of donkeys, but even here, the population is on a decline. While the district had 2,009 donkeys in 2012, this number dropped to 1,514 in 2019. “The ongoing 21st Livestock Census is expected to reveal a further decline in the donkey population,” Reshi said.
Akeel Beigh, Assistant Professor, Veterinary Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) said that due to rapid urbanisation of rural areas and the expansion of road networks, carriers can now transport goods faster and at lower labour costs. “When the output is less than the input — especially in comparison to machines — donkeys lose their economic value,” he added.
Beigh also said that other elements such as the rising cost of feed and fodder, especially in areas where it must be purchased, also contribute to their decline. “In addition, when donkeys are neglected, they are less likely to reproduce, which leads to a natural decline over generations.”
Some reports also attribute the animal’s declining population to neglect, abuse, and exploitation.
For years, a family in the Shalgam village of Dachnipora belt, relied on a donkey to carry firewood, goods and assist in other jobs. However, with changing times, they replaced the animal with a load carrier and abandoned the animal. “We did not need it anymore,” said one of the family members. “We have no idea where it [the donkey] is. Someone must have taken it.”
Local residents say such cases are common. “The moment people do not feel its need, or they find an alternative, the animal is abandoned,” said Kaiser Ahmad, a stock assistant trainee in the veterinary department and a resident of Marhama, while pointing out that the increased cost of maintaining donkeys compared to the low economic returns over the winter months is a factor that discourages farmers from keeping them. “While there are some cases of outright neglect, I believe many residents are caught in a difficult situation, forced to make tough choices due to economic hardship,” Ahmad told Mongabay India.
Another donkey owner from the village, on condition of anonymity due to fears of being judged, blamed rising bran prices for the neglect. “With the rising rates of feed, many people cannot afford it, especially for an animal that does not work in winter,” they said.
Dawood Mohammad, an animal rights activist based in Srinagar and founder of Animal Rescue Kashmir (ARK), a rehab facility for animals, said that this is a clear example of animal welfare being compromised for economic motives. “Even if these animals are no longer economically valuable, we have a moral duty to treat them with respect and compassion,” Mohammad said. “They are living creatures, and their pain should be of concern to us. It is both inhuman and against the law, and we need to move away from a solely utilitarian perspective.”
Despite the visible suffering of the animal, local authorities admitted to not having any programmes in place to address their welfare. Manzoor Ahmad Wani, Block Veterinary Officer, Bijbehara, said, “At present, we do not have any rehabilitation policy or welfare programmes in place for stray or abandoned donkeys.” He, however added that if they receive any inputs about an injured donkey, they send their teams to provide treatment. Notably, there are no rehabilitation centres or shelter homes in the area providing care to these donkeys. “We do get calls from South Kashmir and other places, however, we have not been able to cater to areas outside Srinagar,” Mohammad said citing the small size of their team and resource constraints as the reason for not being able to expand their reach.
Read more: Roadkill instances in Jammu and Kashmir increase as highways lengthen
Banner image: A donkey looking for food at a dumping site in Kashmir. Donkeys often turn to such sites after being abandoned during winters. Image by Waseem Dar for Mongabay.
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