🐾 Donkey

Donkey

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Equus asinus
• Family & relatives: A member of the horse family, closely related to horses and zebras.
• How to spot it: A sturdy gray or brown farm animal with very long ears, a short bristly mane, and a tuft at the end of its tail.

Its body & abilities

• Size: About 90 to 150 cm tall at the shoulder depending on the breed.
• Weight: Usually 80 to 480 kg (180 to 1,060 lb), from small to large breeds.
• Body & adaptations: Its long ears help it hear far away and stay cool, and its hard hooves are made for rocky, dry ground.
• Top speed: Can trot and gallop up to about 50 km/h (30 mph) for short distances.
• Strength: Strong and steady, it can carry heavy loads and pull carts over long distances without tiring easily.
• Senses: Excellent hearing thanks to its big ears, plus good eyesight and a keen sense of smell.
• Growing up: A single foal can stand and walk within an hour of birth, nurses for months, and grows up by about two years.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Lives on farms, in villages, and in dry grasslands, working close to people.
• Where in the world: Kept by people all over the world, first tamed in Africa long ago.
• Territory: It stays near its home barn or pasture and forms strong bonds with its favorite animal friends.

What it eats

• Diet: A plant-eater that grazes on grass and hay and drinks water each day.
• Favorite foods: Grass, hay, straw, and tough dry plants, plus grains and treats like carrots from its keepers.
• How it hunts: As a farm animal it does not hunt; instead it grazes calmly and helps people by carrying loads and pulling carts.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Walks and trots surely on rocky paths and is known for careful, steady footing.
• When it is active: Active by day, grazing and working in the light and resting near its herd at night.
• Family life: Social and friendly, it likes company and lives in small groups called herds.
• How it talks: Makes a loud 'hee-haw' bray to call to friends, along with ear positions and gentle nuzzles.
• Babies: After about a 12-month pregnancy the mother gives birth to a single foal she nurses and protects.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: A helper and companion for people, carrying loads, pulling carts, and guarding sheep from small predators.
• Conservation: Domestic farm animal cared for by people; some rare breeds are protected to keep them from disappearing.
• Dangers: Like other farm animals it can face illness and old age, so kind care and a veterinarian keep it well.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: About 25 to 30 years, and sometimes even longer with good care.
• In our culture: A beloved symbol of patience and hard work, appearing in many old stories, fables, and holiday scenes.
• Where to see it: On farms, at petting zoos, in villages, and on trails where donkeys carry people and supplies.
• Fun fact: A donkey can remember other donkeys and places it visited even after 25 years apart.