Exploitation of Mules by pilgrims

 Pack Mule Welfare Abuses in Mountain Tourism  :-

The suffering of pack mules and other working animals who labour in the tourism industry has largely gone unnoticed. It lies hidden, invisible to those who fail to see, tolerated by those who accept the excuses that the industry puts forward to justify its own failure to take these matters seriously … and take responsibility.

This is especially true of the pack mule working in Morocco’s mountain tourism in industry. I have seen overloaded mules fall on steep mountain paths; I have seen old, emaciated mules forced to work because no one takes responsibility for establishing that they are fit to work. I have seen mules with blood in their mouths and sores on their backs carrying the suitcases of rich, unseeing and uncaring clients, up to expensive hotels in the Toubkal National Park, hotels that have made their fortune on pretending to be champions of responsible and sustainable tourism, hotels that do not have systems in place to ensure that their businesses are responsible. I am deeply troubled and very concerned about this lack of responsibility.

Over 60 Mules Have Died Within 20 Days of Kedarnath Yatra Opening  :-

In a shocking news, over 60 mules used for carrying pilgrims to the Kedarnath shrine have died within 20 days of the opening of yatra. Reports say they have succumbed due to extreme exhaustion, poor diet, abdominal issues and accidental injuries, which are often left untreated.

Moreover, it is being alleged that mule operators have been dumping their carcasses into the Mandakini river, which merges with the Ganga on its path downwards.

According to veterinary experts, exertion and equine colic have been the major causes of mules’ deaths. These mules are forced to carry pilgrims over an almost 19-km long trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. Sometimes, they are forced to complete two trips in a day, even when the rules advise against it.

Horses and mules are used by a lot of pilgrims to cover the long distance to the Kedarnath temple. At present, there are around 8,500 mules and horses on duty for Kedarnath yatra, and they often have to endure sub-zero temperatures on a poor diet and lack of care.

Mules dying on Kedarnath route tossed into Mandakini? :-

According to locals, they had seen some of the carcasses being dumped into Mandakini river in violation of all rules. Amardei Shah, zila panchayat president, said, "This is a major problem. I myself saw a mule dumped in the river. I urge mule owners not to dump carcasses into the river and follow proper burial rules."

Talking about the mules' diet, Dr Rawat said, "The mules should be kept hydrated and fed soaked grams. And they should not take more than one trip a day. After Covid slowdown, owners are probably pushing themselves as well as the mules hard to earn more money, thereby flouting guidelines." Most of these mules are brought from Uttarkashi, Champawat, Pauri, Pithoragarh and Bijnor, especially for the Char Dham yatra. Rawat added: "Each of the licenced mules has a tag on its ear to know it is disease-free. We have sector officers deployed on the route to penalise unlicensed mule owners."

Meanwhile, an official at the animal husbandry department claimed that they have received insurance claims for 57 mules which means their "burial took place as per the rules".

"In two cases, dead mules may have been thrown into the river while in another case, a carcass was left abandoned near a road. Insurance amount is anywhere between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000, which the mule owner usually gets provided they follow the burial rules properly," the official added.

So far, Kedarnath has hosted 3.2 lakh pilgrims since the opening of shrine's portals on May 6.

 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF MULES  IN INDIA :-

Handlers beat the animals mercilessly despite their injuries in order to force them to keep going, back and forth. They don‘t want to miss out on any paying customers. This regularly leads to dangerous situations in which the skittish animals push past tourists. It would be unthinkable for the mules, who are all tied to each other, to slip.

When there are no customers, most donkeys and mules stand in the scorching sun – many tethered so tightly that they are barely able to brush away the swarming flies. And they are thirsty: there is only one token bucket of water on each end of the journey, but the animals tethered there can‘t reach it. They are not given any food throughout the day. Many donkey handlers are rough not only towards their animals but also towards pedestrians, and their tone towards their customers is also harsh.

Donkeys and mules have been critical to the development of human civilization, since being domesticated some 6000 years ago. However, they suffer from being undervalued or ignored by development agencies and animal protection nongovernmental organizations. Where they are recognized as affecting agriculture and the economy it is often because they are seen as being either invasive pests or an anachronism in the developing countries of the twenty-first century. Even in the wealthier societies of the world, donkeys suffer from ignorance about their proper management or a booming industry in health care products based on donkey skin gelatin and milk byproducts.

Blog by :- 

                 Shruti Sharma