In Ethiopia, a nation believed to host nearly 20 percent of the world’s donkey population, a small clinic in the heart of Addis Ababa is playing a vital role in protecting the animals that underpin much of the country’s informal economy.
Situated near the bustling Merkato market, the Donkey Sanctuary — a free veterinary facility run by a UK-based charity — treats dozens of donkeys daily, providing critical care to animals used for transporting water, grain, and other goods in a country where fuel prices and poverty leave few affordable alternatives.
Inside the clinic, caregivers and veterinarians move between enclosures, tending to donkeys suffering from leg injuries, stomach ailments, and infections. Among the visitors is Guluma Bayi, a 38-year-old father who walked more than an hour to bring his two ailing donkeys for treatment. One has a leg issue, the other digestive troubles — both have left Guluma unable to earn a living.
“After they became ill, I couldn’t even afford bread for my children,” he said.
According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Ethiopia was home to an estimated nine million donkeys in 2018. For many in the country of over 130 million people, donkeys are more than beasts of burden — they are economic lifelines. From ploughing fields in rural regions to transporting goods in urban centres, these animals offer a low-cost solution amid rising transport expenses.
Chane Baye, 61, makes a living ferrying sacks of grain for clients across Addis Ababa with his two donkeys. Earning up to 400 birr a day (about \$3), he visits the clinic regularly to keep his animals healthy. Before the facility existed, treatments were often crude and risky. “We used to treat them ourselves. I remember removing nails from their legs using a knife,” he said.
At the clinic, veterinarian Derege Tsegay demonstrates just how critical professional care can be. Clad in gloves, he carefully removes a large mass of compacted stool from a donkey’s digestive tract — a condition worsened by the animals’ tendency to consume plastic and waste due to limited access to proper feed.
“It happens often,” he explained. “There’s just not enough safe food for them in the city.”
Though the work is physically demanding and often unpleasant, Derege sees it as a mission. “I am proud of what I am doing,” he said. “So many people rely on these animals. Helping them is helping the community.”
As Ethiopia continues to navigate economic challenges, the Donkey Sanctuary stands as a critical support system — not just for animals, but for the many lives tethered to their well-being.