Animals in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian economy if one of the poorest in the world. More than 80% of the 80 million population are subsistence farmers who depend on their animals. They use oxen and horses to plough; donkeys and camels carry crops, water and firewood; horses and mules provide transport; cattle, sheep and goats supply meat and skins; hens give eggs and meat; dogs guard homes and cats catch mice.

All too often these animals suffer due to the owners' poverty. Ethiopians struggle to feed and provide medical care for their families, so paying for veterinary treatment for their sick or injured animals is difficult.

Ignorance and carelessness also play their part. A superstitious farmer may believe an infected spinal would under his mule's poorly-fitting saddle to be a manifestation of his neighbour's dislike of him and he takes no action to help the animal. Government vets will clean such wounds free of charge, yet few animals are taken to them for treatment of that nature.






























In Ethiopia's towns and cities, equines pull carts and gharries. Harnesses are usually made from recycled materials and rarely fit correctly, so the animals end up with painful wounds. Shoes are often made of rubber.

The maximum weight a donkey should carry is 50 kg. Despite their diminutive size, Ethiopian donkeys frequently carry loads of up to 100 kg. The average life expectancy of a donkey in Ethiopia is only 9 years, whereas a donkey in England may live to be 27 or more.



Working animals in Ethiopia suffer from a burden of worms that reduces their effectiveness and their life expectancy. It costs 12 birr (50p) to de-worm a donkey twice annually and double this to treat a horse.

Eye infections spread by flies can lead to blindness if left untreated. Tetracycline eye ointment is cheap and available, yet not generally used - owners prefer traditional methods that can be harmful and very painful.

All over Ethiopia municipal public health departments poison dogs with strychnine because of the fear of rabies. Indiscriminate poisoning kills not only street dogs but family pets and nursing bitches too.



Across the country, operations on animals at government veterinary clinics are routinely done without anaesthetic for pain relief. Such operations include cutting op the rumen to remove plastic bags accidentally ingested by cattle.



In Ethiopia, live animal transport is inhumane. Sheep, goats and hens are trussed and thrown into a car boot, or on to a bus roof-rack to spend hours there under the tropical sun before the vehicle reaches its destination.

Hens and cockerels are tied by their legs on sticks, handing upside-down in rows as they are taken to market - a journey that may last days when they are carried from distant farms.

Wild animals are kept as entertainment attractions, spending their lives tied up or in small cages at hotels, parks and zoos.



Birds and mammals, including baby primates, are taken illegally from the wild and offered for sale as pets in urban areas.

The most commonly traded primates are Grivet and Patas monkeys and Anubis, Hamadryas and Gelada baboons. Geladas are an endangered species of grass-eating baboon endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands.

Captive primates have a short life expectancy due to bad handling and lack of understanding about their dietary needs.