Donkeys face serious injury and ill health as they haul rubbish in back-breaking, perilous conditions across Bamako, Mali’s capital, as the city’s only waste service.

On World Donkey Day, global working animal welfare charity SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) is highlighting how Mali’s waste crisis – driven by poverty – is endangering the welfare of donkeys and damaging the environment.

In Bamako, donkeys transport household and industrial rubbish from the city’s neighbourhoods to mountainous landfill sites – the size of several football pitches – right in the heart of the city. These dumps, often springing up illegally, are left to fester, allowing waste to contaminate the soil and water sources, while the practice of burning waste releases dangerous gases that contribute to climate change.

Carting tonnes of rubbish – from food waste and soiled nappies to clothes, shoes and plastics – is horrendous, gruelling work with the working donkeys suffering from multiple injuries and sickness. Mali, in west Africa, is one of the world’s poorest countries with an estimated 14 per cent of the population below the international poverty line* – and pressures on people to earn a living mean these donkeys don’t get to stop, sometimes resorting to eating rotting food and even plastic bags which block their gut.

SPANA helps working animals and the communities that rely on them, by providing often lifesaving medical care for donkeys and training for their owners.

Dr Amadou Doumbia, Country Director for SPANA in Mali, said: ‘Donkeys are the backbone of waste collection in Bamako but working conditions at the dump sites are extremely harsh. It’s physically exhausting and painful for them. These donkeys often suffer injuries – caused by poorly fitted harnesses, trauma and injuries from glass shards and metal scraps at the dump sites. These are constant sources of harm to the donkeys’ legs.’

SPANA estimates that around 10 donkeys a month collapse as a result of the harrowing conditions, mainly due to the heavy loads but also because of malnourishment or digestive issues. Dr Amadou Doumbia, said:

‘We treat the donkeys, provide hospitalisation when needed, train handlers to understand animal welfare, and give them proper harnessing equipment to avoid wounds. If SPANA wasn’t here, I can’t even imagine what the situation would be like. I can confidently say that the lives of these donkeys would be unbearable.’

Bamako faces a severe waste management crisis, with a growing population of over three million and a lack of formal waste services. The city relies on working donkeys for waste removal, which is a far cheaper alternative to vehicles. SPANA is directly helping around 800 of these donkeys by providing veterinary care. Dr Amadou Doumbia adds:

‘The simple fact is, without the donkeys and the waste collection they carry out, Bamako would be drowning in rubbish. Many people would be out of work and the population would suffer from disease, poverty and hardship.’

The donkey’s owners earn a small income from rubbish collection. Yaya, 18, is a donkey cart driver in Bamako. He sought treatment for his donkey for harness wounds and a dental infection, which are common in animals scavenging on the tips. He said:

‘Owning my donkey allows me to earn money and to even send some to the village to help my parents. I learned about SPANA at the rubbish dump; they are there regularly to look after our animals.’

Linda Edwards, Chief Executive of SPANA, said:

‘Bamako’s waste crisis is not just an environmental issue — it’s a daily struggle for survival for both people and animals. Donkeys and their handlers, the unsung heroes keeping the city moving, are working in dangerous, filthy conditions. These resilient animals are battling injuries, hunger, and relentless exhaustion, all while performing the backbreaking work that holds the city together. Their suffering is a stark reminder of how deeply pollution impacts lives — human, animal, and environmental – SPANA is working with already overstretched local authorities to find a solution to this ever-growing problem, but time is running out.’

In Mali, SPANA is a vital lifeline for working animals and the communities who rely on them. With two animal health and welfare centres in Bamako and Ségou, and three mobile clinics reaching donkeys at rubbish dumps and in remote rural areas, SPANA ensures expert care reaches those who need it most. Last year alone, over 29,000 donkeys received treatment — animals whose daily labour keeps lives and livelihoods going. From its Bamako centre, SPANA also runs an education programme that nurtures compassion and empathy in children, helping to build a kinder future for Mali’s working animals and the people who depend on them.

Working donkeys in Mali urgently need help. To ensure that SPANA can provide the vital veterinary care these animals need, please consider donating via the charity’s website.

SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad):

SPANA is the charity for the working animals of the world, transforming the lives of horses, donkeys, mules, and camels in need. Founded in 1923, the charity improves the welfare of working animals by ensuring the treatment and care of animals, training animal owners, and teaching children about animal welfare. Please see the charity’s website, www.spana.org, for more information

*According to the World Bank, 14.8 per cent of people in Mali (more than 3 million) are living below the international poverty line of $2.15 US dollars a day.

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