Interesting facts about donkeys

Interesting facts about donkeys Is a great opportunity to learn more about large mammals. These animals have been used as a labor force for over 5 millennia. This article will present the most curious facts about donkeys.

So, here are the most interesting facts about donkeys.

1. According to some scholars, the first donkeys were domesticated in Egypt or Mesopotamia. Over time, they spread throughout the planet.
2. As of today, about 40 million domestic donkeys live in the world.
3. It is curious that only a donkey that belongs to a domesticated breed can be called a donkey. Therefore, it is wrong to call a wild individual a donkey.
4. As a rule, one foal is born from a donkey. The probability that twins will be born is extremely small - less than 2%.
5. In the poorest countries, working donkeys live 12-15 years, while in developed countries the life expectancy of animals is 30-50 years.
6. Donkeys can safely interbreed with horses (see interesting facts about horses). Animals born in such a "marriage" are called mules, which are always sterile.
7. The largest donkeys are representatives of the Poitus (height 140-155 cm) and Catalan (height 135-163 cm) breeds.
8. In the military drama "Company 9", the same donkey took part in the filming, which 40 years earlier starred in "The Caucasian Captive".
9. Donkey skin in the Middle Ages was considered to be of higher quality for the production of parchment and drums.
10. A horse is a hybrid of a stallion and a donkey.
11. An interesting fact is that donkeys can breed with zebras. As a result of this crossing, zebroids are born.
12. In ancient times, donkey milk was not only eaten, but also used as a cosmetic product.
13. In fact, donkeys are not that stubborn. Rather, they simply have a well-developed self-preservation instinct. If they feel that the burden placed on them is too heavy, unlike horses, they simply will not move.
14. A donkey's cry can be heard up to 3 km away.
15. The ancient Egyptians buried a specific number of donkeys along with the pharaohs or dignitaries. This is evidenced by archaeological excavations.
16. Did you know that there are albino donkeys? Also called white donkeys, for their color. They live on the island of Asinara, which belongs to the Italian region of Sardinia.
17. It was on a young donkey that Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem (see interesting facts about Jerusalem) as King.
18. Today, African wild donkeys are an endangered species. Their population does not exceed 1000 individuals.
19. The female carries a colt from 11 to 14 months.
20. The body temperature of a donkey ranges from 37.5 to 38.5 ⁰С.

Watch the video: Interesting Donkey Facts (July 2025).