A herd of zebu cows in the Abalak region.

At the well of Ekismane, a little Bororo shepherd.

Many animals gather around the well of Afis - Niger - Aïr - 2001

Traditional well at the camp near the confluence of the Tamgak and Zakkat rivers - Not only dromedaries are used to pull up the water container, but also zebus - Aïr - Niger - 2002

The main town of Iferouâne is the primary oasis in the north-western part of the Aïr Mountains. It is the main administrative centre of the "Aïr and Ténéré Nature Reserve", the largest protected area in Africa at 77,000 km². The settlement is located in the Irhazar Valley (also: Ighazar Valley) and is characterised by mud houses, mat tents and gardens. - Traditional well in the gardens of Iferouâne - Niger - Aïr - 1992

A zebu pulls a traditional cart (also known as a bullock cart), heavily laden with coir rope. At that time, such carts were an essential means of transport for agricultural produce and goods. – Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) – 1990

A sturdy wooden cart with large, iron-rimmed spoked wheels, drawn by two white oxen. It is heavily laden with numerous jute sacks, which probably contain grain, rice or other agricultural produce. – Kollam, near Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) – 1990

A fascinating moment capturing the coexistence of tradition and modernity in India. It depicts a street scene typical of the country’s rural regions or smaller towns, where old and new modes of transport share the same space. The yellow lorry is a classic model from Tata Motors, recognisable by its distinctive logo. These vehicles are often artistically decorated with colourful patterns or religious symbols. In direct contrast to this is the traditional cart in the foreground. The driver sits calmly amongst his cargo, whilst the heavily laden oxen plough their way forward – a sight that has scarcely changed for centuries. - Kollam (Quilon) - Near Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) - 1990

The town of Quilon lies sixty kilometres north of Trivandrum, the capital of the south-western Indian state of Kerala, on the Malabar Coast. The planters still often transport their spice harvests – mainly pepper, chilli and cardamom – to the buyers in the town using old-fashioned ox-drawn carts. From Quilon, the sacks of spices are transported by lorry to Kerala’s main port, Cochin, situated 120 kilometres to the north, from where they are shipped all over the world. – 1990

A traditional Indian ox cart in Udaipur, pulled by two zebu cattle (humpback cattle), which are well adapted to the warm climate. A striking feature is the painted horns (here in blue and yellow), which is a common tradition in many parts of India to adorn the animals or highlight their significance to the owner. The wooden cart has large, traditional spoked wheels. For a long time, such vehicles formed the backbone of rural logistics before being replaced in many areas by motorised vehicles such as tractors or auto-rickshaws. – 1990

Following the first monsoon rains, a farmer in the Udaipur area leads a team of two white zebus (humpback cattle) to prepare the ground for sowing. A woman in a yellow sari carries a shallow bowl on her head, containing the seeds for the upcoming sowing. - 1990

The photograph depicts traditional farming in India, showing a farming couple ploughing a field with the help of oxen or zebus. This scene is typical of rural areas where hand-operated wooden ploughs are still used to prepare the soil for sowing. – Udaipur – 1990

The photograph captures traditional rural life in the Aravalli Hills, in the region between Udaipur and Narlai. In this area, agriculture is still largely characterised by traditional methods. Ploughing with oxen is a common method of tilling the soil in this hilly and often arid landscape. The area around Udaipur is known for the cultivation of cereals such as maize and wheat, as well as pulses. – 1990

In the area around Udaipur in Rajasthan, there are still a few places where you can see the traditional Persian waterwheel (often known locally as a ‘rahat’ or ‘araghatta’) in action. Unlike electric pumps, waterwheels draw water more slowly, which allows for a more sustainable use of the often scarce groundwater reserves. – 1990

This irrigation system in the Aravalli Hills near Udaipur is not a Rahat, but a Charas or Chades, which operates on a rope-pulley system. Oxen pull a rope up a ramp to hoist a large leather bag (the Charas) from a deep well. As soon as the bag reaches the top, it empties into the canal. There is no rotating wheel with many buckets here. – 1990

A traditional scene from rural India: a heavily laden ox cart is pulled by two zebu cattle. This mode of transport is a centuries-old tradition in India, which remains part of everyday life even today, particularly away from the main tourist routes. The cart is piled high with branches, which are presumably intended for use as firewood or building materials. The people on the cart are wearing the typical clothing of the rural population in regions such as Rajasthan. – Falna – 1990

The Persian wheel (also known as a saqiyah or araghatta) is an ancient method of drawing water. This scene is typical of the rural areas of Rajasthan. Similar installations are often found near Udaipur, Jodhpur or Kumbhalgarh Fort. – Ranakpur – 1990

The picture shows an zebu-driven water wheel, a traditional irrigation system known as a Rahat or Persian wheel. Oxen or bulls walk in a circle to turn a gear mechanism, which in turn drives a vertical wheel fitted with buckets (often made of clay or metal) attached by chains. The water is drawn from deep wells or rivers and channelled into irrigation canals to supply fields in rural areas. – Ranakpur – 1990

The picture shows an ox-driven water wheel, a traditional irrigation system known as a Rahat or Persian wheel. Oxen or bulls walk in a circle to turn a gear mechanism, which in turn drives a vertical wheel fitted with buckets (often made of clay or metal) attached by chains. The water is drawn from deep wells or rivers and channelled into irrigation canals to supply fields in rural areas. – Ranakpur – 1990

The houses in the village of Khuri are traditionally built from mud, straw and cow dung, which provides natural insulation against the extreme heat of the desert. The geometric patterns and motifs on the whitewashed walls are typical of the region around Jaisalmer and Barmer. They are often painted using natural pigments such as lime (white) and red ochre (reddish-brown). Many of these houses have conical, thatched roofs known as ‘jhumpas’. – Cattle are an integral part of daily life in Indian desert villages. – 1990

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