Ahmedou’s family rely on his donkey Lagdaf to provide clean water and earn essential income. This World Animal Day, we are sharing the world from Lagdaf’s perspective, highlighting the challenges he faces as he carries out his role and how Working Animals International offers support for water donkeys at the mobile clinic.
13-year-old Lagdaf has been supporting his owner Ahmedou for over a decade through long days of hard work. Ahmedou is a married father of four, and like many families in the community of Noakchott in Mauritania, he relies entirely on his donkey to earn a living.
Lagdaf spends up to 12 hours a day travelling as far as 42 kilometres, carrying water tanks which weigh up to 400kg in temperatures that can exceed 40°C. This is a vital service as many households do not have access to clean, piped water. During periods of water shortages, his day can begin as early as 5:30am and continue until 10pm.
The work is physically demanding for both Ahmedou and Lagdaf. He joins the queue at the water pump with over 60 other donkeys to collect his load. They then travel across sandy terrain and informal settlements where there are no proper roads. Extreme heat, rough ground and heavy loads make each journey a challenge.
Ahemdou said: “Lagdaf is irreplaceable. I rely on this work. I have no alternative. This work is very tiring. The heat is intense. The heat is very hard on my donkey. He sweats profusely and loses a lot of fluid. He works very hard. He suffers just as a human being would. Humans and donkeys endure the same heat and strain.”
A moment of reprieve during this work is when the Working Animals International vet team visit the water pump in their mobile clinic to treat the donkeys who are working there. Ahmedou takes Lagdaf for regular check-ups and to receive treatment when needed.
He adds: “They did everything they could for me. They treated my donkeys. One had back pain, and the other had severe wounds. They worked carefully and took their time, providing every treatment they could. I’m grateful to them. They came to the water pump in this extreme heat and treated all the donkeys. We sincerely thank them.”
Working animals such as donkeys, horses, camels and oxen support the livelihoods of millions of people, yet they are too often overlooked. By seeing the world through their eyes, we can better understand the challenges they face every day and why their welfare matters. With your support, we can continue to provide essential veterinary treatment to working animals just like Lagdaf, ensuring better livelihoods for animals and the communities who depend on them.
See the world through Lagdaf's eyes
See the city from his perspective as he navigates busy roads, plastic waste and other hazards faced by the estimated 70,000 working donkeys transporting water across the capital.
