Donkey

Donkey

łac. Equus asinus, Linnaeus, 1758
The donkey was domesticated about 6000 years ago in the Nile Valley (Africa). Nowadays it is bred all over the world as a pack, draught and saddle animal (the latter especially in less developed countries), and recently it has also been used in donkey-assisted therapy. It has a gentle character, being friendly, cautious, intelligent, curious, sometimes a bit stubborn, but nevertheless keen to learn new things. If overloaded, for the sake of its own health, the donkey will not go further until it is partially unloaded. From crossing a donkey jack and a horse mare, a mule is born; the cross between a stallion and a jenny is called a hinny.

male / female
height at withers: 90–100 cm
body mass: ca. 250 kg
female
pregnancy duration: 12 months