At a time when wildfires continue to devastate Spain and Canada, the former has resorted to an unexpected firefighting team and this herd of abandoned animals is saving forests by eating the fuel that feeds deadly blazes.
Rather than depending only on machinery, a small region in Spain has reintroduced donkeys to graze through forests and scrubland to remove dry plants that can fuel fast-moving fires. According to National Geographic, this approach has become an increasingly important part of wildfire prevention in several regions, with rescued donkeys spending much of the year clearing vegetation before it becomes a hazard.
In Catalonia's countryside, a herd of rescued donkeys is eating dry grass, shrubs and other flammable vegetation and are being used to remove the fuel that allows fires to spread rapidly, creating natural firebreaks across forests.
The initiative is being led by Tivissa Donkeys Firefighters, a Catalan non-profit that rescues abandoned and neglected donkeys while giving them a new purpose in protecting forests.
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How rescued donkeys are helping stop wildfires before they start
The charity rescues donkeys that have been abandoned or mistreated and provides them with veterinary care, and allows them to roam freely in forested areas.
