One year on: Brooke's work ongoing in Nepal
It's one year on since the first of several severe shocks hit Nepal, in the biggest earthquake the country in the last 80 years.
Donkeys in Nepal
In the aftermath, Brooke’s partner in the country, Animal Health Training Consultancy Service (AHTCS) jumped into action, helping trapped and terrified horses, donkeys and mules, despite themselves being directly affected by the earthquakes.
After the earthquake we heard that people and their animals in the districts where we were work were very badly affected, so we gathered a team together to work out what we could do.
Dr Bidur Pakhrin, Executive Director of AHTCS said:
“After the earthquake we heard that people and their animals in the districts where we were work were very badly affected, so we gathered a team together to work out what we could do.”
In the first few days the team gathered local people and the Equine Association together to help clear roadways and save 150 horses, donkeys and mules that had been trapped up in the hills by landslides. After that, work continued and over 400 more animals were rescued. The team helped to provide 1483 equines, and over 300 of their owners and handlers with relief materials such as grain and water. The team also ran a five day free animal health camp, providing check-ups for 575 animals including equines.
CEVA Animal Health UK gave their Special Recognition award to AHTCS and the Brooke this year at the beginning of April. It was the only the second time in the awards’ five year history where they have given this award. The judges at CEVA decided that the team should be recognised for their work, and added the award category specially for them.
Help us reach more working horses, donkeys and mules in Nepal
Dr Bidur said “We are honoured to receive this award. We didn’t expect to be recognised in this way, so we’re very thankful to CEVA.
“Services available for the animals are minimal, so this provides a lot of our motivation. The economic benefits these animals bring to people are not properly recognised nationally, so there is more work to be done for us here in Nepal. We are striving for a good welfare status for the working equines. It’s an opportunity and a challenge.”
The earthquake response team in Nepal were:
Dr. Lekhnath Adhikari (Field Co-ordinator)
Dr. Nabin Paudel (Field Co-ordinator)
Dr. Swatantra Dangi (Field Co-ordinator)
Dr. Pushpendra Shah (Field Co-ordinator)
Mr. Bhesh Raj Bastola (Community Officer)
Mr. Keshar Raibhat (Welfare Facilitator)
Ms. Buddha Laxmi KC (Welfare Facilitator)
Mr. Jivan Khatri (Driver)
Dr. Bidur Pakhrin (Executive Director)
Related pages
Nepal is one of the world's poorest countries and is struggling to overcome the effects of 10 years of civil war. Most of the country is dependent on agriculture and it’s estimated that 100,000 working horses and donkeys play an important role in supporting the livelihoods of approximately one million people.
On 25 April a huge 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal. The government and charities worldwide rallied to help affected communities. However, there were also 1,650 injured, trapped and terrified horses, mules and donkeys who had been working carrying bricks for their owners.