Nepalese beasts of burden having a day off

[Guest guest]

*Great news for the mules of the Mid Hills! Anyone who has seen those sturdy

beasts of burden carrying heavy loads up the steep mountains can't help but

feeling empathy.*

 

*Weekly day off for mules, donkeys

*

 

BY SURENDRA SUBEDI

 

www.kantipuronline.com

 

PILUWADOVAN (SANKHUWASABHA), April 10 - At a time when animal rights

advocacy is catching on globally, animal owners in Sankhuwasabha district

have recently decided to declare " weekly leave " for their mules.

 

Local businessmen in the district are largely dependent on donkeys, mules

and horses for delivering goods to remote villages still unconnected by

roads. However, keeping in mind the hard labor these beasts of burden have

to undergo, their owners have started cutting on the workload by giving them

a day off once a week.

 

Traders of this region have also formed a Mule Entrepreneurs Preservation

Association (MEPA), to declare weekly rest for their working herds in return

for the profit they earn. " Since we do not have roads in this region, we

solely depend on these animals for transportation, " said a local

businessman, Narad Rai, on behalf of MEPA.

 

" We are motivated by the thought of granting our cattle 'a day's rest from

the seven working days since we earn sufficient profits due to them, " said

Rai. According to owners like Rai, until last year, their cattle used to

grow weak and die early due to fatigue.

 

Local traders earn handsome profits from their " beasts of burden " which

transport goods - as much as 80 kilograms per animal - to remote

destinations. For each kilogram of load a mule carries, the owner charges a

maximum of 7 rupees, totaling his gross profit up to Rs 400 to 600 at the

end of a day.

 

Over 1,900 mules, donkeys and horses are used for delivering goods to remote

villages along the Leguwa, Tumlingtar, Barhebise, Dingla, Baluwani,

Nepaledada, Chainpur, Sidhhakali and Sidhhapokhari bridle way routes. Most

of the mules in the region are exported either from the Indian border or

from far-western Nepal. They are bought for around Rs 60,000 per mule.

 

" The owners implemented animal rights, also because of the great loss they

might have to bear if they lose these animals, " said Ganga Bista, secretary

of Sankhuwasabha chapter Federation of Nepalese Journalists.

 

--

Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Bagdol, Patan, Nepal

Wijk 4-47, 8321 GE Urk, Holland