Spanish woman trains 18 rescued donkeys to help prevent wildfires

In the sun-drenched hills of Andalusia, Spain, an unlikely team of firefighters is making headlines. They don’t carry hoses, wear helmets, or race to blazes in red trucks. Instead, they have four legs, long ears and a simple mission: eat grass. Meet the “firefighting donkeys” of Doñana National Park, a group of 18 rescued animals turned conservation heroes by a Spanish woman with a bold idea. Since 2014, these donkeys have been grazing for up to seven hours a day, clearing dry vegetation and creating natural firebreaks that help prevent wildfires before they start, according to a report by Good News Network.A rescue mission with a purposeThe story begins with Luis Manuel Bejarano, president of the association El Burrito Feliz (“The Happy Little Donkey”). What started as a rescue mission for abandoned and mistreated donkeys has evolved into one of Spain’s most innovative wildfire prevention projects. The donkeys, once destined for neglect or slaughter, now patrol the outskirts of Doñana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe’s most important wetland reserves.Every day between March and November, the donkeys spend around seven hours grazing through carefully se...