They might not charge into burning forests, but a platoon of donkeys in Andalucia are proving to be one of the most effective weapons against devastating wildfires.
Known as the ‘burros bomberos’, the 18-strong battalion is deployed by El Burrito Feliz, an Andalucian NGO dedicated to the care and promotion of donkeys.
Their mission is to graze down thick vegetation in and around the Donaña national park to create natural firebreaks – a task they’ve carried out for more than a decade with undeniable success.
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‘In 12 years, these animals have carved out a network of clear areas that stop fires from spreading once they start,’ says El Burrito Feliz founder Luis Bejarano.
‘It’s prevention, which is exactly what is missing in Spain right now.’
Military precision – with long ears
The donkeys are far from aimless grazers. The project has been praised by Spain’s Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME), the elite emergency response force, which formally recognised the system’s effectiveness.
‘They have a military structure and perfectly planned work,’ Bejarano insists.
Each spring, the donkeys chomp through fresh grass, clearing 40-metre strips. In summer, they turn their attention to dry scrub.
Unlike goats or sheep, they eat selectively, leaving key vegetation intact while stripping away potential fire fuel.
‘They can reach places where machines simply can’t,’ Bejarano adds.
The operation is cared for by a volunteer group called Mujeres por Doñana (Women for Doñana), a collection of eco-minded women who provide the donkeys with water, monitor their welfare, and even carry out litter clean-ups in the protected park.
But despite clear results, Bejarano says the Junta de Andalucia has turned its back on the project.
‘They gave us a sustainability award, but when we asked for basic support – not money, but tools or water tanks – the answer was: ‘We’re not interested,’’ he told reporters. ‘It’s honestly very sad.’
With zero public funding, the NGO survives solely on member donations and is even considering scrap-metal collection to keep the donkeys fed and hydrated.
A model for Spain
Interest in the ‘firefighting donkeys’ is spreading beyond Andalucia. Groups in the Basque Country and Catalonia have already contacted El Burrito Feliz to learn how to replicate the method.
And it’s not hard to see why: the system slashes costs, avoids fuel emissions, protects wildlife like the lynx, and can reach rugged areas where firetrucks would never manage.
