2 months ago

Donkeys combat Spain's wildfires

Donkeys combat Spain's wildfires
Forget drones: How Spain is turning to donkeys to fight wildfires · indianexpress.com

In southern Spain, a group called Tivissa Donkey Firefighters is using rescued donkeys to help prevent wildfires.

These donkeys eat the dry, flammable grasses that can cause fires.

The group's founder, Joan Cedó Sans, started this project in 2020 after seeing how well donkeys cleared the land around his property.

Now, there are 62 donkeys grazing on both private and public lands to create natural firebreaks.

This method is a unique and eco-friendly way to protect the area from wildfires, especially as fires have been happening earlier and more frequently in southern Europe.

Key facts

Organization
Tivissa Donkey Firefighters
Founder
Joan Cedó Sans
Year Founded
2020
Number of Donkeys
62
Location
Southern Catalonia, Spain
Purpose
Wildfire prevention through grazing
Area Affected
More than 240,000 acres destroyed in Spain

Quotes

Dr Jordi Bartolomé Filella

Professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

“For a very thorough effect, it works well to combine different types of herbivores. So that they act on the different layers and species of the undergrowth.”
firstpost.com
“We’re grateful for the animals that we feel deserve a second opportunity.”
firstpost.com

Sources

Related news