Donkey Outreach

Download our latest Annual Report

Take a closer look...

Brick kilns dot the Kathmandu Valley like solitary oaks, often on fire, belching black smoke as they have done for decades. But on closer inspection one can see an unsettling scene much more serious then the environmental catastrophe these necessary but ugly brick pits pose...a picture of startling torture and abuse emerges...

...Donkeys and bricks.

In addition to the child labor story that predominates these brick pits, is the untold story of donkeys and bricks, as these domestic animals are the backbone of brick production, working day and night hauling and heaving the heavy loads of materials that eventually become the foundation of the ever-expanding metropolis of Kathmandu. There are no laws that govern their treatment, and no labor party to represent their needs. There is only you.

Bricks and you...

So you have just moved into your new construction, or redone your house to add that extra bedroom and kitchen for your son and his new wife. But what tales could be told if only walls spoke. These bricks would wail with the whimpering of a donkey, unprofessionally tethered to palettes of bricks, with bounds rubbing on open & infested wounds that cover most of its malnourished body. Donkeys of the brick pits work themselves into a painful grave, receiving no medical attention and just enough sustenance to get the awful job done. Yet these animals have made your home and business possible. See this photo slide show for more detail.

What to do?

We have a saying here, "Ke Garne" which is loosely translated with a shrug of one's shoulders and a "What to do?" attitude. Well, this is not one of those times, action can be taken. Here are just a few:

• Read this important document that details the abuse of the brick kiln donkey as well as this page with photo essay and video.

• Write to the following ministries with a letter of appeal for the enactment of laws that protect work animals at brick kiln sites:
  • Honorable Minister of Industry, Commerce & Supplies, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal, Fax: +977-1-4211619, 4211594, email: tdisection@moics.gov.np
  • Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal, Fax : 977 1 4225825, email: memoac@moac.gov.np

Template letters can be found here and here. Both letters are in MS Word format for easy editing and personalization.

• Post our campaign poster in your neiborhood, at work, or in your school.

• Sign an online petition to be delivered to the appropriate Nepali Authorities.

• Donate to Animal Nepal and mark your offering "Save the Donkey" or participate locally or remotely in our Adopt-a-Donkey project.

Additional Resources

The following online resources will help you stay informed about the the plight of Nepal's brick-business donkeys, as well as providing useful Donkey info:

• A recent report by the Brookes organization on Brick Kiln Donkeys world-wide. Unfortunatly, they missed Nepal, yet still the best write-up on the problem that we have seen.
• Proper care and loading of pack donkeys, an article by Dr. Denis Fielding, University of Edinburgh, UK.
• Donkey facts for young people.
• Donkey facts and forums for all. Great place to get free advice about the care and breeding of your donkey, all from the UK.
• Find out how American Donkeys are doing at Love Longears!
• NMDA Asset Magizine - subscribe to the National Miniture Donkey Association's publication on that breed.
• Comments from one local resident in his blog post.
• Comments from AnimalNepal's own Lucia in her "Going to the Dogs" blog post.
• See this photo slide show and the Adopt-a-Donkey page.
• More coming soon...send us your favorite links!