Our mission is to create a world where every donkey has a good quality of life
Direct impact - rescue and rehoming
The biggest rescue in The Donkey Sanctuary’s history took place in the depths of a COVID lockdown. Known to us as Operation Dawn it involved working in partnership with five other agencies to rescue over 80 donkeys. After a lengthy court battle, the donkeys are now in our direct care.
As Hannah Bryer, our Head of Welfare recalls: “A moment that will forever stick in my mind on the day of the warrant was when the doors opened to one of the barns, and the faces of about 20 donkeys were staring back at us from the darkness.
Working with communities in Afghanistan
Impact through partnership - the key to unlocking welfare worldwide
We make change wherever donkeys need us most, including in some of the most challenging regions in the world. We do that by combining our world-leading expertise in donkey welfare with the capabilities of partners who work directly with local communities.
In rural Afghanistan, donkeys play a vital role in a country devastated by war and natural disasters where over 50% of the population live below the poverty line. Read about our partnership with the Dutch Committee for Afghanistan (DCA) to boost the welfare of donkeys and in turn improve the wellbeing and resilience of their owners and communities.
African Union ban the skin trade
Governmental impact - the influence to protect
The global trafficking of donkey skins is the biggest single threat to donkey safety in the world right now. We estimate that 5.9 million donkeys a year are being killed to feed this inhumane trade. We are leading the fight against it from Brazil to Botswana and all points between.
We were delighted by the recent landmark ruling from the African Union - representing 55 nations - to implement a moratorium on the trade in donkey skins across the continent: helping to safeguard its 33 million donkeys.
Our impact in 2023
Find out more
Discover how we use our resources and world-leading expertise to make the best impact for the most donkeys.
Explore our worldwide work and learn how we adapt our strategies to improve the quality of life for donkeys globally.
Learn about our mission and values, and meet the diverse team of experts who deliver our work.
