Latest news with #GulumaBayi
Al Jazeera
27-05-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Photos: A free clinic for donkeys, vital to Ethiopia's economy
Ethiopia is believed to host the world's largest population of donkeys – one in five of the global total, according to the United Nations. The humble donkey is a cornerstone of the national economy, and the Donkey Sanctuary – a free clinic run by a British charity – is crucial in Addis Ababa. Set near Merkato, the city's sprawling open-air market, it provides care for animals that are often indispensable to their owners' livelihoods. Several dozen donkeys stand in enclosures at the clinic – some agitatedly kicking their legs, others hungrily tucking into their food. Caregivers and veterinarians move from animal to animal, treating a range of ailments including injuries, colic and eye conditions. Among them is Guluma Bayi, 38, who had walked more than an hour and a half, leading his two donkeys to the clinic. 'It has been three weeks since my donkeys became sick,' said Guluma. 'One has a leg problem and the other has a stomach issue.' Like many, Guluma depends on his donkeys for his livelihood, using them to transport jerrycans of water for sale in his community. 'After they became ill, I couldn't buy bread for my children,' he said. 'I begged a guy to bring me here.' According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Ethiopia was home to some nine million donkeys as of 2018. In this East African nation of approximately 130 million people, donkeys play a chief economic role, ploughing fields and transporting goods – offering a low-cost alternative to vehicles at a time when the price of fuel has soared. Another regular visitor, Chane Baye, earns his living by using his two donkeys to transport sacks of grain across the city for clients. His income can range from 200 to 400 birr per day (approximately $1.50 to $3) – a decent sum in a country where a third of the population lives below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 a day. The 61-year-old seeks out the clinic every three months or so – 'whenever they start limping or have a stomach problem', he said. 'Before this clinic, we used traditional ways to treat them,' he explained, describing how nails were once crudely removed from the animals' legs with a knife. He is grateful that his donkeys now have access to professional care for their injuries and infections. At the clinic, vet Derege Tsegay demonstrates the less glamorous side of his work by performing a routine but unpleasant procedure – reaching deep into a distressed donkey's rectum, clad in a rubber glove. Derege removes a large mass of stool that had accumulated in the animal's digestive tract. 'It happens often,' he remarked. A lack of adequate food in the city frequently leads donkeys to ingest whatever they find – including plastic bags – which can wreak havoc on their digestive health. Though the work is often challenging, Derege takes pride in what he does. 'I am proud of what I am doing … because I am trying to solve the problem of so many owners that rely on their donkeys,' he said with a smile.
Al-Ahram Weekly
21-05-2025
- General
- Al-Ahram Weekly
PHOTO GALLERY: Ethiopia leads the world in working donkeys
Donkeys walk through a busy market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopia is thought to have the most donkeys in the world, one in five of the global total according to the United Nations, and they form a vital part of the economy. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says Ethiopia had some 9 million donkeys in 2018. They play a major economic role in the East African country of around 130 million people, ploughing fields and transporting goods. Donkeys offer a cheaper alternative to cars at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply. Donkeys walk through a busy market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopia is thought to have the most donkeys in the world, one in five of the global total according to the United Nations, and they form a vital part of the economy. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says Ethiopia had some 9 million donkeys in 2018. They play a major economic role in the East African country of around 130 million people, ploughing fields and transporting goods. Donkeys offer a cheaper alternative to cars at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply. A veterinarian treats a donkey at a donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP A veterinarian treats a donkey at a donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP Men load bags of fertilizer onto the donkeys at a market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP Men load bags of fertilizer onto the donkeys at a market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP Donkeys wait to receive care at a clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP Donkeys wait to receive care at a clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP A man walks his donkeys after they received treatment from the donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP A man walks his donkeys after they received treatment from the donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP Guluma Bayi (L), 38, gets advise from a veterinarian after his donkeys receive care at a donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP Guluma Bayi (L), 38, gets advise from a veterinarian after his donkeys receive care at a donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP A veterinarian stands among donkeys at a donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP A veterinarian stands among donkeys at a donkey clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. AFP
eNCA
20-05-2025
- Health
- eNCA
A free clinic for donkeys, vital to Ethiopia's economy
ADDIS ABABA - At a clinic in Ethiopia's capital, a donkey is complaining as a vet tries to trim his nails. Ethiopia is thought to have the most donkeys in the world, one in five of the global total according to the United Nations, and they form a vital part of the economy. So the Donkey Sanctuary, run by a British charity that operates around the world, has its work cut out at its free clinic near Merkato, Addis Ababa's vast open-air market. On a recent visit by AFP, several dozen donkeys were gathered in pens, some agitated and kicking their feet, while others eagerly pounced on food. Caregivers and veterinarians were taking turns treating injuries, colic and eye problems. Guluma Bayi, 38, walked more than an hour and a half with his two donkeys to reach the clinic. "It has been three weeks since my donkeys became sick," he told AFP. "One has a leg problem and the other has a stomach issue." Like the others making the trip, Guluma relies heavily on his donkeys to make a living. He uses them to transport jerrycans of water to sell to his fellow villagers. "After they became ill, I couldn't buy bread for my children," he said. "I begged a guy to bring me here." After successful treatment, Guluma was able to go home with both donkeys. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says Ethiopia had some nine million donkeys as of 2018. AFP | Amanuel Sileshi They play a major economic role in the East African country of around 130 million people, ploughing fields and transporting goods, offering a cheaper alternative to vehicles at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply. "There is a proverb in Ethiopia: if you don't have a donkey, you are a donkey yourself," said Tesfaye Megra, project coordinator for the Donkey Sanctuary, laughing. The charity operates in several regions across the country and opened its Addis Ababa centre in 2007. "They are invaluable animals... and they are suffering while they are providing different services to the community," said Tesfaye. The daily life of donkeys is no picnic. Urban sprawl in the Ethiopian capital has made green spaces increasingly scarce. The loads they carry can be heavy, and many are beaten and badly treated. Another visitor to the clinic, Chane Baye, said he used his two donkeys to carry sacks filled with grain for clients across the city. They allow him to earn between 200 and 400 birr per day (around $1.50 to $3) -- not bad in a country where a third of the population lives below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 per day. The 61-year-old comes roughly every three months to have his donkeys checked -- "whenever they start limping or have a stomach problem," he said. "Before this clinic, we used traditional ways to treat them," he added, referring in particular to nails roughly removed from the animals' legs with a knife. He is pleased his donkeys now get professional treatment for wounds and infections. Derege Tsegay, a vet at the sanctuary, performs a routine but unsavoury operation, inserting his gloved-up arm deep into a struggling donkey's rectum. AFP | Amanuel Sileshi Derege pulls out the large chunk of feces that had accumulated in the animal's stomach. "It happens often," he said. A shortage of food in the city means donkeys eat whatever they find, often including plastic which can block their digestive system. It's not always pleasant, but he knows how important the work can be for local people. "I am proud of what I am doing... because I am trying to solve the problem of so many owners that rely on their donkeys," he said with a smile. By Dylan Gamba
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
A free clinic for donkeys, vital to Ethiopia's economy
At a clinic in Ethiopia's capital, a donkey is complaining as a vet tries to trim his nails. Ethiopia is thought to have the most donkeys in the world - one in five of the global total according to the United Nations - and they form a vital part of the economy. So the Donkey Sanctuary, run by a British charity that operates around the world, has its work cut out at its free clinic near Merkato, Addis Ababa's vast open-air market. Several dozen donkeys were gathered in pens, some agitated and kicking their feet, while others eagerly pounced on food. Caregivers and veterinarians were taking turns treating injuries, colic and eye problems. Guluma Bayi, 38, walked more than an hour and a half with his two donkeys to reach the clinic. "It has been three weeks since my donkeys became sick," he said. "One has a leg problem and the other has a stomach issue." Like the others making the trip, Guluma relies heavily on his donkeys to make a living. He uses them to transport jerrycans of water to sell to his fellow villagers. "After they became ill, I couldn't buy bread for my children," he said. "I begged a guy to bring me here." After successful treatment, Guluma was able to go home with both donkeys. 'A donkey yourself' The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says Ethiopia had some nine million donkeys as of 2018. They play a major economic role in the East African country of around 130 million people, ploughing fields and transporting goods, offering a cheaper alternative to vehicles at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply. "There is a proverb in Ethiopia: if you don't have a donkey, you are a donkey yourself," said Tesfaye Megra, project coordinator for the Donkey Sanctuary, laughing. The charity operates in several regions across the country and opened its Addis Ababa centre in 2007. "They are invaluable animals... and they are suffering while they are providing different services to the community," said Tesfaye. The daily life of donkeys is no picnic. Urban sprawl in the Ethiopian capital has made green spaces increasingly scarce. The loads they carry can be heavy, and many are beaten and badly treated. Another visitor to the clinic, Chane Baye, said he used his two donkeys to carry sacks filled with grain for clients across the city. They allow him to earn between 200 and 400 birr per day (around €1.30 to €2.65) - not bad in a country where a third of the population lives below the World Bank's poverty line of €1.90 per day. The 61-year-old comes roughly every three months to have his donkeys checked - "whenever they start limping or have a stomach problem," he said. "Before this clinic, we used traditional ways to treat them," he added, referring in particular to nails roughly removed from the animals' legs with a knife. He is pleased his donkeys now get professional treatment for wounds and infections. Digestive problems Derege Tsegay, a vet at the sanctuary, performs a routine but unsavoury operation - inserting his gloved-up arm deep into a struggling donkey's rectum. Derege pulls out the large chunk of faeces that had accumulated in the animal's stomach. "It happens often," he said. A shortage of food in the city means donkeys eat whatever they find, often including plastic which can block their digestive system. It's not always pleasant, but he knows how important the work can be for local people. "I am proud of what I am doing... because I am trying to solve the problem of so many owners that rely on their donkeys," he said with a smile.
