Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakar is an animal scientist known for his work on desert ecosystems, pastoral livelihoods, and working animals. He is the founder of World Donkey Day, a global awareness initiative created in 2010 to recognise the importance of donkeys. World Donkey Day is observed every year on 8 May.
World Donkey Day
Introduction To “World Camel Day”
What is “World Camel Day”
World Donkey Day is celebrated each year on 8th May. World Donkey Day (WDD) was founded by Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakar in 2010 at Quetta Pakistan. Peta Jones from South Africa supported the idea. They had been organizing seminars and workshops on this special day about donkeys and many people had been participating. With the revolution in social media and the boost of Dr. Abdul Raziq's website arkbiodiv.com, this day got very warm attention from all over the world. In 2018, this day reached another level. Now, this day is being celebrated in different quarters of the world each year. The idea to set up a World Donkey Day emerged in 2018. World Donkey Day is the brainchild of Dr. Raziq Kakar, Ph.D. in Animal Science from Northeastern Balochistan
Founder's View on Donkey
While I was walking and working with the camels for my doctoral research in Northeastern Balochistan in Pakistan, I realized that the donkey is an even more important player both as a working animal and resilient to the drought and feed/water scarcity. As soon as I completed my Ph.D. task, I took my luggage and started my donkey love exploration. I wrote some general articles and found different types and communities of donkey keepers. Besides the crucial and pivotal role of a donkey, very little attention has been given to this poor creature. I communicated with many people at the global level who had an interest in donkeys. I found a kind soul “Peta Jones” from South Africa who is in real love with Donkey. I asked her to support my cause/suggestion for world donkey day. She supported me and suggested May 8 as World Donkey Day, because it is the week after World Labor Day and the donkey is the most important labor in the world, is it not??
bnr.bg/en/post/101464002/donkey-stories
About the Founder - Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakar
Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakar hasd almost 23 years of practical experience with camels in one or another capacity. He holdd a doctorate in animal science, with a special emphasis on dromedaries as potential dairy animals. Dr. Abdul Raziq is a camel dairy professional, both by training and experience. A camel dairying entity (Alain Farms for Livestock Production), the world’s first commercial camel dairy, has been his sole employer since 2014. The camel, in his philosophy, is a magical biological model that copes with a warming planet while producing health-promising milk and meat under challenging conditions. He has documented different
aspects of camels as a potential dairy animal.
In addition to providing consulting services at a global level on how to establish profitable and sustainable camel dairies, Dr. Raziq has already completed seven consultations on different aspects of camels, particularly dairying and developing international milk products. Under the patronage of Dr. Raziq, a team of camelists from all corners of the globe work together under the umbrella of Camel4Life Interinational to advocate and promote camel milk on a global scale.
Latest Posts Related to Donkey:
Local livestock breeds represent decades (often centuries) of adaptive breeding and knowledge. With ~20% of breeds threatened, we risk losing genetic tools vital for resilience in an uncertain climate. This piece outlines policy- and market-based steps to support pastoralists and conserve breed diversity. https://arkbiodiv.com/2025/08/21/pastoral-guardians-how-herders-protect-livestock-diversity-and-our-food-future/ CTA: Read the article and join the conversation.
World Donkey Day, observed annually on May 8th, is a significant occasion to honor the contributions of donkeys (Equus asinus) to human society. These resilient animals have played a crucial role in agriculture, transportation, and livelihoods across diverse cultures and geographies. Despite their historical and economic importance, donkeys often face neglect, overwork, and inadequate welfare conditions. This manuscript explores the history, ecological and socio-economic significance, conservation needs, and the future of donkeys, advocating for their recognition and sustainable management.
Heartiest congratulations, much love, and tons of respect for Azlan
We celebrate world donkey day each year on 8 May.
Donkey is multipurpose livestock, being used for ages for work,