# Spain donkey firebreak initiative

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spain-donkey-firebreak-initiative
> Updated: 2026-08-01T09:00:21.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Spain’s use of rescued donkeys as natural firebreaks began in 2020 when the El Burrito Feliz association organized a herd to graze dry vegetation in Doñana National Park. The “Firefighting Donkey Battalion” kept the park free of wildfires for nine years, prompting replication in Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country.

By early August 2026 the programme had grown to involve almost 4,000 registered donkeys of five native breeds across the country. Projects such as the Adebo reserve in Córdoba, the Trivissa Donkeys Firefighter initiative in Tarragona, and the Huelva‑based El Burrito Feliz unit now combine preventive grazing with therapeutic work for ill people. Organisers report that wherever the donkeys graze, the risk of fire is markedly reduced.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-01: Spain's Donkeys Repurposed for Fire Prevention and Therapy

Spain repurposes nearly 4,000 donkeys as fire‑break grazers and therapy animals, with projects in Córdoba, Tarragona and Huelva led by Pascual Rovira and Joan Cesó.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spains-donkeys-repurposed-for-fire-prevention-and-therapy

### 2026-07-25: Spain deploys rescued donkeys to curb wildfires in national parks

Rescued donkeys in Spain graze dry vegetation to create firebreaks, preventing wildfires in Doñana and other regions after a record‑breaking fire season.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-deploys-rescued-donkeys-to-curb-wildfires-in-national-parks

---
Cite as: Spain donkey firebreak initiative. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spain-donkey-firebreak-initiative