Veterinary TIMES Above and right. Samir, one of the head muleteers working for Far Frontiers Expeditions, demonstrates the fitting and securing of the humane tethers that have now become mandatory in the industry. Left. The rope that was previously knotted around the mule’s legs is now fashioned into a slip knot that can be placed over the stopper knot and locked into place. Muleteers now use the tethers on trek, as here at a gîte (accommodation) in Tizi Oussem, where feed and water troughs have been built for the mules. Update on combating tethering injury in equine trekking industry TETHERING injuries are common across Morocco. In the souks (markets), mules and donkeys can expect to be tightly lashed to a rope using the thinnest of strings. This causes injury and untold suffering and, as a mutilation, is illegal. The law, however, does not clearly specify tethering in this way is illegal and the author- ities do nothing to address these inhumane practices. This is not just a problem in the souks, where mules and donkeys are presented for sale – owners, too, carry on abusing their mules and donkeys, and are often seen securing their animals in the most inappropriate ways without any thought or care as to the consequences. In a previous report (Cous- quer and Alyakine, 2012), work undertaken to address these issues in the trek- king industry and develop atraumatic, humane, locally produced alternatives was described. This article pro- vides an update on the excit- ing progress made to tackle and address this issue. Development of humane alternatives Between 2013 and 2014, a humane tether was perfected based on the leather-sheathed double loop of climbing rope model described previously (Cousquer and Alyakine, 2012; Cousquer, 2014). This was brought into pro- duction locally with the help of a women’s association. The design of the leather sheath was further improved by inverting the sleeve after it had been stitched, so the stitch- ing was on the inside of the sleeve, thus protected from wear and tear. The women were shown how to produce tallow from boiled perirenal sheep fat and this was used to wax the leather and render it supple and water-resistant. The women involved in this project produced a video of the production process, which was subsequently released on the Kasbah Mule Facebook page. Two orders of 300 tethers each were placed with the women’s associa- tion – the first by the village association, Association des Bassins d’Imlil, and the second by UK charity Pukka Projects, which has played a significant role in championing mule welfare in the trekking and expeditions industry. Donations of used climbing rope have come in from across the UK and Europe as organ- isations and individuals have sought to help. These have included gifts from national training centres, mountain rescue teams and others. The volume of donations has meant plenty of rope has been available for other parallel projects, including the pro- duction of locally made head collars. This last initiative is a vital part of the fight to elimi- nate the use of the traditional bit and ensure pack mules are worked in head collars whenever they are loaded. Field trials Extensive field testing of the humane tether has allowed local muleteers to develop a number of ways of secur- ing and working with the tether. One of the head muleteers produced a video of the recommended teth- ering method. This involves placing the stopper knot of the tether through the loop. The muleteers are satisfied the new system is secure and have developed a simple slip knot, which means the tether does not need to be knotted. This is actually faster than the previous system. From the mule’s point of view, any pull felt through the broad-padded tether, even if weighted, is very comfortable and does not cause any trauma. Changes to local working practices The work undertaken with partners across the trekking and expeditions industry – to alert them to the animal welfare abuses that were widely perpetrated with- out anyone taking a stand against them – has yielded some remarkable results. In 2014, the Expedition Providers Association devel- oped a charter of care for working mules, which, among other things, stipulates mules should only be tethered using humane tethers. This year, this requirement has been written into contracts the association’s members have signed with their local ground handlers. This is, therefore, now a con- dition of work and employ- ment and is actively policed by the guides and trekkers working for these companies. With the support of The Donkey Sanctuary UK, these companies’ muleteering teams have benefited from ongoing training support to help them develop their knowledge and practical know-how in mule care and good muleteering practice. Gradually, through initia- tives such as this, local prac- tices are being transformed from abusive ones to caring, respectful ones. This repre- sents a significant achieve- ment – one already transform- ing the lives and well-being of the mules working in this important sector of tourism. What next? The tourism industry is of great importance to the Moroccan economy and exposes local people to a wide range of cultures and ideas. It has the potential to kick-start a revolution in ani- mal care, providing the local authorities sit up and recog- nise they need to do their bit to ban inhumane tethering and other cruel, medieval practices. In doing so, they will be bringing their country up to date with international standards in animal welfare. Let’s hope those who have dragged their heels over such initiatives, and have failed to support and encourage these very positive develop- ments, realise the achieve- ments reported here. Progress is being made and those who have cham- pioned these solutions are to be thanked. They have demonstrated, by work- ing together, significant improvements in animal welfare can be achieved in a very short space of time. References Cousquer GO and Alyakine H (2012). Developing solutions to expedition pack mule tethering injuries in the High Atlas, Veterinary Times 42(30): 10-14. Cousquer GO (2014). Rope burns and pack animals, The Professional Mountaineer 8: 10-11. GLEN COUSQUER BSc(Hons), BVM&S, CertZooMed, PGDOE, MSc(Outdoor Education), MSc(Education Research), IML, MRCVS describes how a locally produced humane tether and changes to working practices, are making progress to end the suffering of Moroccan donkeys and mules GLEN COUSQUER qualified from the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1997 and has spent much of his career in wildlife, avian and exotic practice. He completed the Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2003 and worked in various capacities in exotic and small animal emergency prac- tice, in France and the UK, before becoming an international moun- tain leader and returning to academia to pursue research interests in animal welfare in tourism. He holds master’s degrees in outdoor education and education research and is a research scholar at the Uni- versity of Edinburgh’s Institute of Geography, where he is completing a PhD on pack animal welfare in the mountain tourism industry. This donkey has been tied with string to a tethering rope at a souk (market) in Asni, near Marrakesh. These practices are barbaric and technically illegal as it mutilates the animal. The authorities condone these practises by their inaction and failure to address the issue. This mule has been tethered using a narrow piece of string. This cuts easily into the skin and underlying tissues, and causes great distress. This is not obvious to those who do not know what to expect, what to look for and what is acceptable. Unfortunately, most local people do not see these as abuses and nothing has, therefore, been done to address these unacceptable practices. Inset. The leather sheaths are produced and then applied over a double loop of climbing rope. This is then greased with tallow to ensure the leather remains supple and water-resistant. Above. The women of the Association Tamghartenoudrare demonstrate their handiwork on the mule tethering project, in which they fashion a broad, double loop of climbing rope and a protective leather sheath or sleeve. WELFARE EQUIDAE 10 Many mules are simply tethered by their owners or handlers, who go to the café while waiting for work – leaving the mule like a parked car, unable to satisfy some of its most fundamental needs, such as drinking and socialising. In this case, a thin rope has been used to tether the mule. Above. On trek, mules historically were tethered using a length of rope tightly tied to the pastern, or over the cannon bone of the forelimb. As an animal ages, it acquires more scars and injuries due to the burns and associated trauma resulting from this practice. VT46.30 Master.indd 10 22/07/2016 12:40 Name: Date: Approved New Version Comments: Andrew Greenwood July 22, 2016