EQUIDS IN NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Academic engraving depicting a rescue horse led by a responder, tribute to the vital contribution of equids in post-disaster operations.
Natural disasters, wildfires, floods, earthquakes or storms, profoundly disrupt ecosystems and human communities. Yet, an often underestimated ally stands out for its versatility and adaptability: the equid. Whether horses, donkeys or mules, their role in prevention, response and reconstruction after a catastrophe is invaluable, combining strength, intelligence and endurance.
The Role of Equids in Emergency Phases
Logistic Support in Difficult Terrain
In many mountainous, forested or isolated regions, motorized vehicles become unusable after a disaster. Horses and mules are then deployed to transport food, water, medical supplies and fuel where vehicles can no longer reach.Their mobility on rough ground, stamina, and energy independence (they need no fuel) make them essential actors in disaster-stricken areas.
Example: During the 2015 Nepal earthquake, mountain mules carried over 80% of humanitarian supplies to the isolated villages of the Langtang region.
Partners for Rescue Teams
Mounted rescue units (such as police or military horse patrols) are often mobilized to locate victims or monitor high-risk areas. Their stealth and autonomy allow them to cover vast regions without relying on power grids or communication networks. In fire-affected zones, horses are sometimes used to detect residual hotspots, thanks to their keen sense of smell and instinctive reactions to danger.
Equids and Environmental Resilience
Fire Prevention and Landscape Maintenance
Even before disasters strike, equids help reduce environmental risks through their natural vegetation control. When grazing in sensitive zones, horses, donkeys and mules help maintain vegetation cover, limit biomass accumulation, and thereby reduce wildfire spread.
This preventive grazing, already implemented in southern France, Spain and Greece, has become part of official wildfire prevention plans (PPFC).
Soil Rehabilitation After Disasters
After floods or landslides, equids can be used for transporting materials and for re-seeding devastated areas. Their regular passage aerates the soil and stimulates new plant growth, avoiding the excessive compaction caused by heavy machinery. Post-disaster ecological restoration projects increasingly rely on animal traction teams, introducing a gentle, precise and sustainable form of land work.
Equids as Social Reconstruction Agents
Psychological and Symbolic Support
After a catastrophe, equids also bring emotional comfort. In humanitarian programs, horses are often used in therapeutic activities for children and traumatized survivors. Their presence calms, rebuilds trust, and helps reestablish emotional bonds after shock. NGOs such as The Brooke and SPANA have documented the positive effects of equine-assisted therapy in North Africa and South Asia.
Economic Resource for Recovery
In affected rural areas, equids provide an immediate, autonomous labor force to restart agricultural activity. They help cultivate land again, reopen access routes, and supply villages, becoming key actors in local economic resilience. Post-disaster recovery programs led by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) often include the distribution of equids to families who lost their draft animals.
Toward Better Integration of Equids in Disaster Risk Management Plans
Recognizing Their Status as Civil Protection Actors
Despite their multiple uses, equids are rarely mentioned in national disaster management plans. Experts advocate for their official recognition, with clear protocols for mobilization, protection, and evacuation during emergencies. In Europe, pilot programs such as EquiRescue in Spain are testing mounted civil defense units.
Training and Equipping Mixed Teams
Effective disaster management requires joint training of humans and animals:
- specialized training for horses in post-crisis terrain reconnaissance,
- training for rescuers in safe handling of equids,
- creation of local reserves of trained animals for crisis logistics.
Such initiatives could improve inter-species cooperation in disaster zones while ensuring the safety and welfare of the animals themselves.
Conclusion: A Living Link in Territorial Resilience
Equids are not mere spectators of natural disasters. They are frontline actors, capable of intervening at every stage: prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction. In an era of increasing climate crises, recognizing their strategic, ecological and human value is essential to building more resilient and cooperative communities. Restoring the role of horses, donkeys and mules in disaster management means reclaiming a form of living intelligence in service of collective survival.
Sources and References
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) – Livestock in Disasters: Reducing Vulnerability and Building Resilience, Rome, 2023.
- The Brooke – Working Equids and Disaster Risk Reduction: Field Guidance Manual, London, 2021.
- SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) – Emergency Response and Animal Welfare in Developing Countries, 2022.
