Donkey Welfare in Bethlehem 2016

Donkey Welfare in Bethlehem 2016

This project is funded by the Donkeys Sanctuary- United Kingdom 2016. Bethlehem district has a large amount of agricultural land, and many small farms. The farmers use their donkeys mainly for farming and herding; Bethlehem has many villages that are affected by the separation wall, and from the divisions of areas to the Palestinians and Israelis. The farmers are the most affected by this, and constantly suffer from the long distances they need to cover to reach their lands and farms. They use donkeys as a transportation tool to reach their farms and for farm work. They lack knowledge of the donkey’s basic needs, and how to treat them well, keeping them in good health for the farming.

PLWS in this project will extend their work in other villages in Bethlehem area improving donkey welfare and owner education. Upon the success and need from farmers PWLS decided to raise more awareness to near villages of Bethlehem about Donkeys Welfare. In the targeted sites there are around 1,500-2,000 donkey and most of the populations are farmers. PWLS objectives are; to reach around 300 donkeys in each site to give veterinary treatment, give the farmers the best practices of life for the donkeys and to change the farmer’s behavior in the way he treats his donkey.

From our past experience PWLS staff (educators, mobile clinic and the Vet) noticed many negative impacts and behaviors of farmers toward their donkeys, there are no places for the donkey to rest, not enough food, using sticks, no nose band covers and no available veterinary treatment. The farmers used to think that the donkeys hold out many hard situations and live long, in spite of the fact that farmers depend on donkeys for their livelihoods