In Ethiopia, members of a Orthodox Tewahedo Church stop eating beef and dairy products during a 55-day period before Easter.
Importance of donkeys in Ethiopia
Speckled hyenas change their eating habits from scavenging rubbish from butchers and households to hunting donkeys.
According to reports, the lack of beef accessible for a hyenas to scavenge appears to be behind an increase in attacks on donkeys. Research published in a British Ecological Society’s Journal of Animal Ecology has shown that, as a result, speckled hyenas change their eating habits from scavenging rubbish from butchers and households to hunting, and donkeys become their prey.
The Donkey Sanctuary assists local owners in providing better care for their donkeys and the staff is aware that hyena attacks are one of the biggest threats to donkey welfare.
According to a report, Dr Hagos Yhidego, who works with Mekelle University is taking the hyena attacks on donkeys seriously and says he will be contacting a researcher at the University about the problem which can have a devastating effect on local farmers.