Study Shows Donkeys Can Experience PTSD-Like Trauma

When we think of post-traumatic stress disorder, we usually imagine human survivors of war, violence, or abuse. But new research suggests that animals can suffer in strikingly similar ways. According to Psychology Today, a peer-reviewed study of donkeys working in Egypt’s brick kilns found that 82 percent displayed behaviors consistent with complex PTSD—symptoms like hypervigilance, withdrawal, and emotional shutdown.

Researchers observed donkeys and mules across Egypt, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, noting patterns of learned helplessness, where animals stop responding to abuse or stress because escape feels impossible. Their stillness and passivity—often mistaken for “stoicism”—are actually signs of psychological defeat. Just as with human trauma, the inability to express pain in words doesn’t make the suffering any less real.

The findings add to growing evidence that many non-human mammals experience emotions parallel to our own. Elephants, chimpanzees, and even dogs have been documented showing trauma responses after repeated distress. The study’s authors argue that failing to recognize these behaviors as trauma is not scientific rigor, but an “empathic failure.”

Encouragingly, this research is already driving humane alternatives. Safe Haven for Donkeys, a UK-based charity, is piloting tractor-led transport in Egypt’s brick kilns to replace donkey labor. If successful, it could offer relief for both animals and human workers while creating a blueprint for ethical, sustainable practices.

Recognizing trauma in donkeys forces us to rethink how we view so-called “beasts of burden.” Like humans, they have brains wired for fear, attachment, and joy. Their suffering should not be dismissed as the cost of survival in harsh economies. Compassionate solutions—whether mechanized alternatives, adoption, or better welfare standards—help create a healthier, kinder environment for all beings.

By widening our circle of empathy, we not only protect animals but also deepen our understanding of trauma itself. The lesson is clear: healing should never be limited to humans alone.

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