Common name: Domestic Donkey
Scientific name: Equus asinus domestic
Conservation Status: Not Listed
This species has been domesticated throughout the world in farming and also sold as pets.
At the zoo: Bob (male, 27y) - he lives with his best friend Pearl who is a miniature horse, and a miniature zebu named Zeus in a Mega Mini enclosure at the western end of the zoo.
Habitat:
Descended from the African Wild Ass, Domestic Donkeys are now found throughout the world as domesticated pets and used in agriculture.
Diet:
They feed on grass, shrubs, weeds and vegetables.
Life Expectancy:
45 years
Biology:
Donkeys have been domesticated for over 5000 years due to their ability to carry heavy loads over rough terrain, their surefootedness, and their tolerance for limited water and sparse vegetation. Where horses cannot easily survive, or where poverty prevents humans from owning horses, donkeys are a feasible alternative.
Unfortunately, feral populations of donkeys are becoming a threat to biodiversity conservation, such as in the western United States where they compete with bighorn sheep for resources, and on tropical islands where native plants are at risk of extinction.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that Donkeys have a great memory? They remember places they have been and other donkeys and humans they met, even 25 years after having seen them last!
