Ongoing

• A desk-based review of the role of equids in sites of disaster, conflict and crisis, including how they contribute to community resilience. This is informed by document analysis (policy papers, historical texts, and academic publications) as well as semi-structured interviews with key informants, primarily field staff working in frontline services in crisis zones (conducted between June-July 2020).
• A field-based assessment of the role of pack mules in disaster recovery after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal; this component will include both qualitative (semi-structured interviews) and quantitative (structured questionnaires) tools to gain a complete picture from equid owners, people in affected communities and NGOs involved in the disaster response.

We used both qualitative and quantitative techniques to review over 100 scientific articles, which were identified using a snowball technique and key search terms; manually checking each article to ensure its relevance. For the quantitative analysis, articles were classified under the following categories: Publication date; Country of study; Discipline of article; Type of article (field-based; literature-based or management-based); Biome (of study area); Focus of impact (whether impacts where measured/discussed with specific reference to donkeys, or for wider groups of species); Evidencing impact (whether an article measured environmental impact, discussed environmental impact or referred to presence only). All articles were qualitatively reviewed using NVivo (v.12.0) for categorical and thematic analysis as well as critical discourse analysis. This involved the identification of different issues that regularly appeared in the literature, ascribing fine-grade codes or ‘topic codes’. We then worked from topics to themes, systematically coding these themes while reflecting on meanings, positionality and underlying agendas. We also assessed the overall framing of the article, examining the extent to which donkeys were framed in positive, negative or neutral terms.

This project consists of a critical review of academic literature, grey literature (institutional reports, working papers, government documents), media reports, and communications with field researchers and practitioners. Articles were identified using a snowball technique (Echeverri et al., 2018), using key search phrases (‘feral donkey’, ‘wild burro’, ‘feral equus asinus’, ‘free-roaming donkey’, ‘free-ranging donkey’, ‘wild donkey’). These articles were then checked for their relevance. Articles were treated as both information sources (to elicit empirical knowledge) and as cultural artefacts (Bowen, 2009; Clarke, 2005) for categorical and thematic analysis as well as critical discourse analysis. Using these articles as representations of societal and scholarly discourse, we systematically reviewed the use of donkey labels and elicited their meaning, in order to reveal inconsistencies and underlying agendas.

In this multi-disciplinary project we aim to identify the risk factors for sarcoids and to identify specific ‘molecular signatures’ that will aid in the management and treatment of sarcoids in donkeys.

The study will follow desktop review, qualitative and quantitative data collection methods across the regions where donkey and mule populations are relatively higher.

Statistical analysis of retrospective data. Phase one involves transfer of data to the lead investigator for analysis using Marcov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) statistical methods. Phase two involves combined analysis of all FECRT data collected over the three sampling times to identify i) temporal trends in the development of resistance, ii) evidence for differential rates of development of resistance, and iii) evidence for particular groups of animals for which the rate of development of resistance seems to be accelerated compared to the other groups. Phase three of the project will involve communication of the findings to the research and clinical teams at The Donkey Sanctuary, and subsequent discussions regarding the implications of these findings for routine endoparasite control.

The FAO live donkey and mule population information will be compared across regions over time to understand where there have been significant increase or decrease in population size and distribution.

Data collection for baseline study of shelter seeking behaviour in Portugal and Spain, plus working equid owner questionnaire. Collect data on current working equid management practices and protection from the elements (PFE) in Mescal growing regions in Mexico with comparison to communities in Vera Cruz.

Different harness systems were tested (collars and pack saddles), controlling variables that can influence the results, such as draft work when performing different tasks, load displaced, balance of the load, etc.

Phase one:

Seven different collars were tested using pressure pads. Contact area, median, maximum and peak pressures were obtained for the whole collar and critical points. Eight donkeys pulled 20% and 40% of their body weight, using each collar, under controlled conditions.

This phase was mainly focused on the use of pressure pads, determining the force and pressure distribution beneath different harnessing and packing systems in 8 working donkeys (both static and dynamic tests).

Preliminary trials were performed, using a load cell coupling system (dynamometer), fitted between the equipment used, and the animal. Other preliminary tests included the evaluation of workload effort based on physiological parameters (heart rate using a Holter system), with the main purpose of obtaining more reliable parameters for equids’ performance and welfare; and the use of thermal camera to monitor and evaluate all the contact areas of the harnesses used in this project.

Phase two:

Based on the very promising results obtained during the preliminary trials of the first phase of this project; the researchers moved to the second phase. Controlled, real working operations (logging and agriculture) were performed with working donkeys to a) evaluate the three different collars, b) measure the force exerted by the equids using a swingletree dynamometer and c) evaluate the workload effort based on physiological parameters.