Happy World Donkey Week! This is a week to celebrate the beautiful longeared creatures in our lives. May 8 is officially World Donkey Day, so make sure you hug an ass if you have one!
In celebration of World Donkey Week, I decided to share some fun donkey trivia with you.
DID YOU KNOW …
· Donkeys were domesticated around 6000 years ago.
· A female donkey is called a jennet, and a male donkey is called a jack.
· A cross between a male donkey and a female horse is called a mule. A cross between a female donkey and a male horse is a hinny.
· Donkeys have 62 chromosomes. Horses have 64. Mules, due to the cross-breeding, only have 63, which is why they are sterile in all but a very few cases.
· In the wild, a donkey’s bray can be heard by other donkeys over a mile away.
· The oldest donkey on record was named Flower, and she was over 70 years old when she died. Donkeys often live into their 30s and 40s if they are properly cared for.
· The world’s oldest mule was named Tootsie and lived to the age of 56.
· Donkeys are incredibly intelligent animals who learn quickly, but get bored of repetition easily. Donkeys need to be trained differently than horses for this reason.
· Donkeys developed their long ears because they were originally desert animals. The size of their ears help both with hearing and with keeping the animal cooler. Their white points (nose, belly, etc.) also help with cooling.
· Although there are different breeds of donkeys in Europe and Asia, most North American donkeys are divided into groups by size, not breed. Miniature donkeys are 36” or less at the shoulder. Standard donkeys are 36” – 54” tall. Mammoth Jackstock, the largest North American donkeys, are over 54” in height for females and 56” for males.
· A donkey with spots is not called a Paint or a Pinto like a horse. They are known as “Spotted Donkeys.”
· Donkeys are NOT stubborn! They are self-preservationists, and will not put themselves into danger, which is why they are thought to be stubborn. Often we have to show the donkey that it is safe to go into a place by doing it ourselves first.
· Donkeys are the lifeblood of families in third world countries where they are used to carry water, food, and other materials as well as carrying people. Associations like The Donkey Sanctuary work with local people to teach them proper care of their donkeys and provide medical assistance.
· The Asiatic Wild Ass can run up to 43 mph!
· Being desert animals, donkeys can go up to three days without water, but they should always be provided with clean water to drink to keep them safe.
I hope you have enjoyed some fun donkey facts! These gentle, sweet creatures deserve to be honoured. Happy World Donkey Week!