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.
- According to some scholars, the first donkeys were domesticated in Egypt or Mesopotamia. Over time, they spread throughout the planet.
- As of today, about 40 million domestic donkeys live in the world.
- 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.
- As a rule, one foal is born from a donkey. The probability that twins will be born is extremely small - less than 2%.
- In the poorest countries, working donkeys live 12-15 years, while in developed countries the life expectancy of animals is 30-50 years.
- Donkeys can safely interbreed with horses (see interesting facts about horses). Animals born in such a "marriage" are called mules, which are always sterile.
- The largest donkeys are representatives of the Poitus (height 140-155 cm) and Catalan (height 135-163 cm) breeds.
- In the military drama "Company 9", the same donkey took part in the filming, which 40 years earlier starred in "The Caucasian Captive".
- Donkey skin in the Middle Ages was considered to be of higher quality for the production of parchment and drums.
- A horse is a hybrid of a stallion and a donkey.
- An interesting fact is that donkeys can breed with zebras. As a result of this crossing, zebroids are born.
- In ancient times, donkey milk was not only eaten, but also used as a cosmetic product.
- 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.
- A donkey's cry can be heard up to 3 km away.
- The ancient Egyptians buried a specific number of donkeys along with the pharaohs or dignitaries. This is evidenced by archaeological excavations.
- 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.
- It was on a young donkey that Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem (see interesting facts about Jerusalem) as King.
- Today, African wild donkeys are an endangered species. Their population does not exceed 1000 individuals.
- The female carries a colt from 11 to 14 months.
- The body temperature of a donkey ranges from 37.5 to 38.5 ⁰С.