India's First Donkey Conservation Park To Be Set Up In Leh

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Donkeys are seen as funny animals and a taboo is associated with them. The animal is being neglected. With the result, its population is declining alarmingly.
Now a Delhi-based social enterprise, Organico, is setting up India’s first donkey park in Leh.

“We have just 1,20,000 donkeys left in India. In Ladakh, the condition of donkeys is very bad. Donkeys, which were used for transportation and other purposes have been abandoned by their owners. So we are planning to start India’s first conservation park for donkeys in Leh,” Pooja Koul, founder of Organico, said.

The sharp decline in donkey population in India over the last decade might be linked to emerging demand of donkey hide in the Chinese market, said Brooke Hospital for Animals (India), an international animal welfare organisation based out of London.
The country’s donkey population shrunk to 0.12 million in 2019 from 0.32 million in 2012, according to the Livestock Census released in 2019. In 2007, there were 0.44 million donkeys in India.
The total population of horses, ponies, mules and donkeys decreased by 51.9 per cent since 2012. The decline (61 per cent) in the donkey population was the sharpest.
Increasing literacy rate, mechanisation at brick kilns and adoption of mules instead of donkeys for transportation purpose are also among the reasons for their decline.
The skin of donkeys is smuggled to other countries, especially to China for Ejiao, which is used in treating different types of illnesses.
The consumption of donkey meat is also reported to have gone up in Andhra Pradesh, where it is being consumed because people believe it increases virility (male sexual strength).
Since donkeys have mostly disappeared from Andhra Pradesh, donkeys are being brought in from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Donkey meat is not categorised as an “animal food” under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s Food Safety and Standards, 2011, making its slaughter and consumption illegal.

Types of donkeys

There are three main types of donkeys:

wild,
feral and
1.domesticated.

Wild donkeys typically grow to around 49 inches (125 centimeters) from hoof to shoulder and weigh around 551 pounds. (250 kilograms).
Domesticated donkeys vary in size, depending on how they are bred. On average, domesticated donkeys are slightly smaller than their wild cousins, typically weighing from 400 to 500 pounds (180 to 225 kg) and measuring 36 to 48 inches (92 to 123 cm) from hoof to shoulder.
Wild donkeys are found in deserts and savannas in northern Africa from Morocco to Somalia, in the Arabian Peninsula and in the Middle East.
One species, the kiang or Tibetan wild ass, is found in China, northern parts of Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan, and in northern parts of Pakistan.
Domesticated donkeys, on the other hand, are found all over the world, but they prefer dry, warm areas. The Abyssinian donkey, for example, is bred in Ethiopia, according to Oklahoma State University, while the Anatolia donkey is bred in Turkey.
Male donkeys are called jacks and females are called jennets or jennies. Donkeys are very social and usually live in a group called a herd.
A wild herd is usually led by one jack and includes several jennies. Some larger wild herds have been found that include several males.
Donkeys don’t seem to form strong social bonds, however. Wild herds often break up and reform with new members on a regular basis.
Donkeys rest during the hottest part of the day. They are more active during the early mornings and evenings, when they travel and graze with their herd.
Female donkeys have a gestation period of around 12 months, and baby donkeys are called foals. Foals weigh between 19 and 30 pounds (8.6 to 13.6 kg) at birth and can stand and nurse just 30 minutes after birth.
At 5 months, foals are weaned and at 2 years they are old enough to mate. Females typically give birth to a new foal each year.

Donkey Taxonomy And Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Bilateria
Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus

Species:

Equus asinus — burro, donkey, ass
Equus hemippus — Syrian wild ass, achdari
Equus khur — Indian wild ass, khur
Equus africanus — African wild ass
The NGO is also trying to explore economic possibilities to help the local people earn a livelihood. “Donkey milk is expensive because of its cosmetic properties. It has anti-aging and antioxidant properties.
A liter of donkey’s milk is sold between Rs.2000 to Rs.4000. During the pandemic it was sold at Rs 7000-8000 per liter in Maharashtra and Gujarat,” Pooja kaul said.

Why is donkey milk expensive?

About 80 percent of the bacteria in donkey milk is lactic acid bacteria, making it effective in preventing stomach upsets.
it has been used to treat heart ailments, infectious diseases, liver related diseases, fever and asthma, leading to a rise in the demand and price of donkey milk.
While cow and goat milk are protein rich, donkey milk is known to be rich in trace elements, including vitamins and minerals.
Donkey milk is less allergenic than cow’s milk and closer to human milk, and is hence fed to infants. Additionally, donkey milk doesn’t usually contain the foodborne pathogens found in other kinds of milk, giving a longer shelf life.
Donkey milk is not just used for its health benefits, but is also a component of cosmetics and has a reputation for skin hydration. It can be frozen to be converted into a beauty powder, according to a study.
Donkey milk is considered a specialty item, as one donkey produces only about a litre of milk daily.

Question:
Nagarhole National Park is located in ______.