Donkeys

Donkeys belong to the Equidae family, which includes horses and zebras, and their scientific name is Equus asinus!

A group of donkeys is called a “herd” or “drove,” but when they’re working together, they can also be called a “pace” of donkeys!

While wild donkeys typically live 25-30 years, donkeys in captivity can live up to 50 years when well cared for!

A male donkey is called a “jack,” a female is called a “jenny” or “jennet,” and a baby donkey is called a “foal”!

Donkeys can be found on every continent except Antarctica, but they originally came from the deserts of North Africa!

An adult donkey typically weighs between 400-1,000 pounds (180-450 kg), depending on the breed!

Donkeys are herbivores, which means they only eat plants, and they can digest rough, dry vegetation that other animals can’t eat!

The average height of a donkey at the shoulder ranges from 36 to 48 inches (91-122 cm), about as tall as a big dog!

Domestic donkeys have been helping humans for over 5,000 years, making them one of our oldest animal partners!

There are more than 40 different breeds of donkeys in the world, ranging from tiny Miniature Mediterranean donkeys to giant Mammoth donkeys!

A donkey’s big ears can be almost half the length of its head! They move in different directions to help the donkey hear sounds from far away. Plus, their ears help keep them cool in hot weather!

Donkeys have incredibly strong legs and can kick in all directions, including sideways, which helps them defend against predators!

Unlike horses, donkeys have straight backs and coarser hair in their manes and tails!

A donkey’s hooves are more elastic and help them walk more surely on rocky, mountainous ground than horses can!

Donkeys have excellent night vision and can see well in low light conditions thanks to their large eyes!

A donkey’s coat can come in many colors, including gray, brown, black, white, and spotted patterns!

Donkeys have a dark stripe down their back called a “dorsal stripe” and often have a cross-shaped pattern over their shoulders!

A donkey’s teeth continue to grow throughout their life, just like human fingernails!

Donkeys have stronger digestive systems than horses!

Donkeys are incredibly intelligent and can remember places and other donkeys for 25 years or more!

Donkeys are not stubborn — they’re cautious and will stop to think about new or dangerous situations before proceeding!

Donkeys communicate through a sound called “braying,” which can be heard up to two miles away!

Donkeys form strong emotional bonds and can become depressed if separated from their companion!

A donkey can learn to solve simple puzzles and can remember the solution for years!

Donkeys prefer to face their problems head-on rather than run away, which is why they make such good guard animals!

Donkeys have excellent memory and can recognize familiar faces, including those of other donkeys and humans.

Donkeys show their feelings with their ears! When their ears point forward, they’re curious or happy. When pinned back, they might be upset, stressed, or thinking.

Donkeys are naturally curious and will investigate new objects in their environment!

Donkeys can learn commands just like dogs and can respond to over 15 different verbal cues!

Wild donkeys are adapted to desert life and can hear the call of another donkey from up to 60 miles (97 km) away in good conditions!

Donkeys can survive on much less water than horses, drinking only once every few days if necessary!

A donkey’s hooves are designed to handle rocky terrain!

Donkeys prefer to live in dry, warm climates but can adapt to many different environments!

Wild donkeys often dig wells up to 6 feet (1.83 m) deep to find water, which helps other desert animals survive too!

Donkeys have a thick coat that protects them from both hot and cold weather!

A donkey can carry up to 20% of its body weight across difficult terrain!

Donkeys naturally live in small groups of 2–3 animals in the wild!

Donkeys have a strong instinct to guard their territory and will chase away coyotes and wolves!

Wild donkeys can travel up to 20 miles (32 km) per day in search of food and water!

A baby donkey can stand and walk within 30 minutes of being born!

A donkey’s pregnancy, or gestation period, lasts between 11 and 14 months, with an average of about 12 months.

Baby donkeys usually nurse from their mothers for 6–8 months before being fully weaned!

A baby donkey doubles its birth weight within the first two months of life!

Donkeys usually give birth to just one foal at a time, and twins are very rare!

Baby donkeys are born without stripes on their shoulders — these develop as they grow older!

Young donkeys reach their full adult size by age 3!

A female donkey can have babies from age 3 until about age 25!

Baby donkeys learn to bray at about one week old!

Young donkeys stay close to their mothers for the first two years of life!

Donkeys can eat tough desert plants that other animals can’t digest!