Today is the day to celebrate the curious and intelligent nature of donkeys | Tours

Yes, here at Fugas we are for donkeys and, to the same extent, against the transformation of animal species into derogatory adjectives — one-two-three-say-it-again: donkey, goat, cow, snake, pig… “Let us leave behind once and for all the negative connotations with which the word donkey is wrongly associated and let us celebrate the curious and intelligent character of the donkey, which shines through in its deep gaze.” The 8th of May, officially established in 2019 as International Donkey Day, is dedicated precisely to the recognition of the donkey and its countless surprising characteristics, a day to celebrate the life of the donkey and the impact it has had on our society.

World Donkey Day was first proposed in 2018 by Ark Raziq, a scientist specializing in desert animals. A year later, the donkey was on the calendar. “Today is a great day!”, exclaims to Fugas Cláudia Costa, from AEPGA, the Association for the Study and Protection of Donkey Cattle that had been created much earlier, in 2001, and which today continues to celebrate the date with enthusiasm.

“This day has come to be celebrated as a manifestation of respect, recognition and thanks to these animals, which have accompanied human beings for thousands of years, being little valued. Donkeys were, and still are in so many countries, a driving force in development of many communities, driving force in working the land to produce food and collect water, transport for the movement of people and essential goods in inhospitable places and difficult scenarios, even war, where nothing else works. this with its stoic, serene and tender nature that characterizes this species”, writes AEPGA on its Instagram account.

In the opinion of the association based in Atenor, Miranda do Douro, this day exists to “promote the dignification of all donkeys and the roles they play in different communities around the world”.

At AEPGA, we take care of the well-being of donkeys, highlighting the Miranda Donkey, an indigenous Portuguese breed threatened with extinction that “contributed in a decisive way to the rurality, culture and history of Portugal”.

Currently, AEPGA has around 120 donkeys in its care and two donkeys have already been born in 2024: Uivo, on March 20th, and, about two weeks ago, a donkey, which has not yet been baptized.

“The mission of the association”, writes AEPGA, “aims not only to protect, but also to bring a positive image of donkeys to society. Community outreach is essential so that our message, for the dignification of donkeys and the well-being of all animals, reach more and more people.” Therefore, on this World Donkey Day, a poster was launched to add to the collection alluding to the five Freedoms of Animal Welfare. “Freedom from Suffering highlights the importance of providing medical and veterinary care throughout an animal’s life. This freedom reminds us that priority must be given to preventing health problems and acting quickly in the initial stages of pathologies and injuries, so that diagnosis and treatment are effective, thus reducing the likelihood of suffering unnecessary pain or developing long-term illnesses.”

On the AEPGA agenda, mention should also be made of the Northeast seminar, naturally – Territory, Geo-Biodiversity, Sustainability and Nature, which will take place at PINTA – Vimioso Iberian Nature and Adventure Park, on the 27th of May, a meeting that it will serve to “think about new ways of valuing the territory”.