TThe ‘Donkey’ is also known as a ‘Ass.’ It is a beneficial animal. For at least 5000 years, it has been used as a working animal. It is a one-of-a-kind and amazing animal. A male donkey is referred to as a ‘jack,’ a female donkey is referred to as a ‘jenny’ or ‘jennet,’ and a young donkey is referred to as a ‘foal’. Here are 25 amazing facts about this helpful animal.
- Horses and donkeys are often crossbred together, which gives birth to a mule.
- While a donkey will sink in quicksand, a mule will not.
- The donkey’s eye placement helps it see all its four feet at a time.
- Ideally, an average donkey can be 3-foot six-inch(107 cm) in height and about 4 feet (122cm) in width.
- A donkey, on average, can weigh anywhere around 500 pounds (227 kg). In contrast, a miniature donkey can weigh under 400 pounds (180 kg).
- A Donkey can safely carry about 20 percent of its entire body weight, but it can pull about its half bodyweight under full potential.
- China is the largest holder of donkeys globally, which stands to be about 11 million in the 1990s, and now the no has dropped to 3 million.
- In UK and Europe, it is mandatory for donkeys to have a passport.
- Donkey’s originated from Somali and Nubian wild asses. The wild asses were captivated in Egypt and western Asia, which dated back from 2800 BC to 2500 BC.
- They are the only domesticated animals that are originated in the continent of Africa.
- Until 1000 BC, they become a common means of transport throughout Egypt, Asia, and parts of Europe.
- Donkeys can have a life span of over 50 years when kept in captivity. Whereas in the wild they can live about 20-30 years.
- If we compare the strength of the same size donkey and a horse, the donkey would have more strength.
- Donkeys groom themselves in herds just like monkeys and chimps.
- An Asiatic wild Donkey can run as fast as 43 mph(70 kph). At the same time, domesticated donkeys can run at a speed of 30-35 mph (48-56 kph) over short distances.
- Food is scarce in deserts, so the donkeys utilize 95% of the food they eat. This stands out as their manure is not well for fertilizing the land.
- A donkey can hear another donkey sound about 60 miles away in a desert-like environment as they have far big ears than horses.
- Their large ears also help them to stay cool.
- It’s been researched that donkeys have an incredible memory as they can remind areas and donkeys that they were with 25 years ago.
- Donkeys don’t like rain much as the rain can damage their health as well as their fur as it’s not waterproof.
- Donkeys have about 62 chromosomes which are sixteen more than humans. This means that their DNA has more information than humans.
- A group of donkeys is called a herd or a drove. In contrast, female donkeys are called as jennets while males are called jacks.
- The gestation (pregnancy) period of donkeys can last for up to 11 months, and giving birth to a single child.
- The child of a donkey is often called a foal.
- Zebras crossbred with donkeys, often called zebrasses and zonkeys. In 1 out of 10000, donkeys are fertile.
