Europe pioneers ‘firefighter donkeys’ to prevent wildfires

Chennai: As firefighters in France and Spain battle raging wildfires that have forced thousands to evacuate, communities farther from the frontlines are turning to an unlikely ally: donkeys.

Two grassroots initiatives in Spain — Tivissa Donkey Firefighters and El Burrito Feliz — are using herds of donkeys to reduce forest fire risk by doing what they do best: grazing.

The animals feed on dry grass, scrubland and fallen leaves, curtailing the amount of flammable vegetation in high-risk areas. A pair of donkeys can be seen munching away on dry leaves in forests in Spain, seemingly unaware of the essential service they are rendering.

With climate-driven wildfires intensifying across Europe, governments are ramping up containment efforts. At the same time, these community-led projects offer a low-tech, ecological approach to prevention — letting donkeys clear underbrush naturally before a spark can catch.

Proponents say the donkeys not only help prevent fires but also maintain biodiversity and forest health.