The Sukaar Foundation also organizes veterinary camps for treatment of animals, erects shelters, plants trees and builds water ponds.
By G Junejo
Mithi
The Sukaar Foundation, a non-government organization, in collaboration with Brooke Pakistan, has launched animal rights project, especially of the donkeys used for riding and transporting heavy burdens, in desert district Tharparkar.
The organization is currently working at 20 kilns and ten villages of the district creating awareness among the people how to look after the animals, especially the camel, donkeys and the horses used by the people for transporting the goods in villages.
The Sukaar Foundation is not only holding awareness sessions with villagers on taking proper care of needs like water, fodder and rest but also is organizing the camps for treatment of camel, donkeys and horses. The awareness sessions are held at selected villages where such animals are found in use. The villagers are also advised during the awareness sessions to immediately take the animals to the veterinary doctor in case of any would or disease. The awareness sessions are held with men and women of the villages.
In this regard, medical camps were arranged at Wango Morr and surrounding areas near Kaloi while awareness sessions for men and women were held in Desar Ji Dhani and other villages.
Dr. Partab Rai, Project Coordinator, said that these animals are a great source of income for the villagers but there is no awareness among the people how to take proper care of them. “The donkeys are domesticated animals mostly used in Thar Desert for transporting goods and fetching water, but they are not treated like cattle,” he said.
Dr. Partab said that under the project, the Foundation has erected shelters and planted trees at some places for the donkeys besides constructing water ponds.
Meanwhile, the villagers told that they have been trained in dressing the wounds of donkeys and also cultivating the grass, grown on less water, to ensure availability of fodder for the donkeys.
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