Burdens, Bonds, and Biases: The Sociocultural Role of Donkeys in Pastoralist Communities

Donkeys are integral to the lives of over a quarter of a billion people living in poverty, yet their socio-cultural roles remain poorly understood. This study explored the diverse roles that donkeys play in drought-prone pastoralist communities in Kenya and Ethiopia. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 41 key informant interviews with stakeholders and 18 gender-segregated participatory workshops with donkey owners. Four key themes were identified: (1) donkeys are a cornerstone of pastoralist culture, enabling nomadic mobility, strengthening social bonds, and preserving cultural identity and traditions; (2) their vital role is paradoxically undermined by cultural devaluation, leading to poor welfare and glaring policy gaps; (3) donkeys are inextricably linked to women, who are often the primary users and bear the greatest burden when donkeys are lost; and (4) the illegal donkey skin trade heightens these vulnerabilities, impacting women and threatening the stability of donkey-dependent communities. We conclude that human–donkey interdependence is an overlooked but key component of pastoralist culture in arid and semi-arid lands. Effective climate adaptation and drought resilience strategies must integrate community perspectives and address policy gaps undermining donkey welfare.