Bikaner News Desk: Once upon a time, donkey was considered an easy means of carrying load. No matter how much load is put on a donkey, he can bear it. This is the reason why the donkey remained man’s companion in carrying burdens for thousands of years. As long as humans considered donkeys as their companions, their numbers remained in proportion to their use. But as the usefulness of donkeys in carrying weight decreased, their numbers also started decreasing.
Number of donkeys reduced in fairs
The impact of shortage of donkeys is being seen at many levels. Because of which biodiversity is under threat. At one time, 20 to 25 thousand donkeys used to come for sale in the Khalkani fair held during Shardiya Navratri in Rajasthan. But now its number has reduced to only 15 to 20. There are only 1 lakh 20 thousand donkeys left in the country. According to a report by Brook India, a United Kingdom organization, cosmetics are being made in China from donkey skin and donkey milk. In many places it is being used to increase manhood.
Conservation happening in Bikaner
In the last few years, the number of donkeys in the country has decreased significantly, but on the other hand, the struggle to save donkeys also continues. Donkeys are being conserved by saving their lives at the National Equine Research Center in Bikaner. The Center has contributed in preserving new breeds of donkeys by promoting them. Head of the centre, Dr. Sharat Chandra Mehta says that many breeds of donkeys have also been developed in the National Horse Research Centre.
Only 1 lakh 20 thousand donkeys are left in the country
At present there are only one lakh twenty thousand donkeys left in the country. After this report, Dr. Sharat Chandra Mehta, Head of the National Equine Research Centre, has prepared a project for breed improvement of donkeys and developing advanced breeds and sent it to the Government of India. The scientists of the center are engaged in using new technologies to improve their breeds. Spread over several acres of land, the National Equine Research Center has excellent laboratories, while a team of top level scientists of the country is engaged in research to improve the breeds of donkeys.
