Nepal's new animals welfare crisis

[Guest guest]

Stop abusing donkeys

Indra Dhoj Kshetri

http://newsfront.com.np/

 

The discovery of two critically abused, injured donkeys, dumped by the main

roadside in the Kathmandu city has signalled a new crisis in animal welfare

in Nepal. The rapid urbanisation of Kathmandu has created a booming brick

factory industry in the city. Around 1,000 donkeys have recently been

introduced to work in the brick kilns. They are used to transport bricks

and mud and are forced to bear loads beyond their capacity.

 

The two donkeys were dumped by the owner on April 1 near Kushunti in

Lalitpur, nearby Ring Road. One died after a few days from its injuries,

starvation, overwork and exposure. The other was found to be suffering not

only from a broken leg but also from multiple large open sores and serious

leg wounds. The local children and community tried to help the donkeys by

feeding them and covering them with plastic to protect them from rain. They

showered their generosity to save the donkeys, but did not know whom to

inform for rescue and treatment.

 

A local, who knew about Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre (KAT) contacted

them if they could help the dying creatures. As soon as KAT was informed,

its team rushed to the scene. KAT Manager Khageshwaar Sharma said,

“Although KAT does not have facilities to house large animals, this was an

extreme case of animal cruelty which we could not ignore at all.” The

surviving donkey has been named, ‘Asi’ and is still under treatment and

care at the centre.

 

Dr. Dar, a veterinarian from Israel, who is currently in Kathmandu said, “I

have never seen such a case of abuse in my life. It seems to be that this

mule underwent multiple severe prolonged abuses in the past, since there is

an old untreated fracture on her fore left limb that caused a twisting of

that leg. The poor body condition indicates severe starvation and

malnutrition. Poor hoofs and atrophy of the hind legs are also present. In

spite of all the lesions, somehow this stoic jenny (female mule) could

maintain and manage to stay alive up to the point of the recent rescue. A

severe open on her fore right limb probably was the one that finally became

too much for her.”

 

KAT resident vet Dr Kiran Pandey added, “The fact that she was neglected

while on the ground and could not move herself created further severe

pressure sores all over her body side and dehydration. This supports the

assumption that this animal was subjected to a severe abuse and heartless

cruelty for a long period of time.”

 

KAT Founder Jan Salter said, “I despair at this new development. We have

done important work mainly with the stray dogs in the Kathmandu Ring Road

area and are just starting to see the results with much healthier animals

on the streets. Now we have another new crisis to face. Information

gathered from the local NGO in the area who are working and are helping the

community that labour in these brick factories say that the working

conditions for these beasts is appalling.

 

“The brick factories destroy the surrounding vegetation so there is very

little for the donkeys to eat. It appears that they are just forced to work

until they drop. We need to educate the factory owners and workers in the

care of these long suffering animals in the future. We hope that ‘Asi’ will

become a symbol for the future wellbeing of all suffering working animals

in Nepal.”

 

KAT was founded in 2004 and carries out a programme of animal birth control

and rabies vaccination amongst street dogs to reduce suffering and benefit

the community. Street and community dogs are caught each day, taken to KAT

Centre, treated for conditions such as worms, fleas and mange, and then

sterilised and vaccinated against rabies. Once they are fully recovered

they are released back where they came from. Since it began, KAT has

sterilised and vaccinated over 5,400 dogs – preventing around 55,000

unwanted puppies being born.

 

Animal right activists hope that human beings would recognise all animals

as sentient beings and treat them with love and respect they deserve.

 

 

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