Pack donkeys have been used for thousands of years and can still be the appropriate solution for transport in remote mountainous regions where the roads are few and difficult. Denis Fielding describes how pack donkeys should be selected and their saddles arranged for maximum efficiency.
Folk technologies such as using donkeys for pack transport have received little attention from extension or research workers. The purpose of this article is therefore to highlight the important aspects in the management of pack donkeys as a contribution towards using them better.
Packing is one of the most ancient forms of transport which preceded even the invention of the wheel. That it has survived to the present day serves to emphasize its value. The major advantage of pack transport is its effectiveness in the absence of roads, in hilly and mountainous terrain and in muddy and marshy areas. It is particularly effective where access is limited -this applies not only to remote mountainous areas but also to areas of high population density as in city centres. Donkeys are usually cheap compared to other draught animals and an adequate pack saddle normally requires relatively little monetary investment.
