Time to Bray – It's World Donkey Day!
By Jill Dando News
Donkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals and yet they are so often misunderstood.
This World Donkey Day on May 8, The Donkey Sanctuary are encouraging people to learn more about these incredible animals, by sharing ten of their favourite donkey facts:
- CLEVER CREATURES
Donkeys are highly intelligent creatures. They are sociable and calm, and capable of independent thinking and decision-making.
What is sometimes incorrectly thought of being stubborn, is in fact a highly developed sense of self-preservation – they carefully consider a situation before acting on it.
- KEEPING COOL
Their large ears are an adaption from living in hot climates, where they can be used to control body temperature.
Originating in the deserts, donkeys also had to spread out to find the sparse food, unlike horses whose safety came from within a tight herd, meaning long ears allowed them to hear other members of the herd calling over long distances.
- REMEMBER THIS
Donkeys have excellent memories. They can remember places that have visited in the past and can recognise other donkeys from many years ago.
- SOCIAL LIFE
Donkeys are social animals and prefer the company of other donkeys. They often pair with another companion for life.
- LIFELINE
Donkeys are a lifeline to communities around the world.
In some of the most challenging places on earth, donkeys provide transport and access to water, often undertaking the tasks that might otherwise fall to women and children.
- HEE HAW
The bray is one of six sounds a donkey makes, the others being growl, grunt, squeal, whuffle and snort.
The bray is the loudest and is individual to that donkey. It can be heard over long distances and requires the ability to vocalise while both inhaling and exhaling. The hee during air intake, and the haw comes as the air passes back out.
- ONE VISION
Donkeys can see 340° without turning their heads, with a blind spot directly in front of them.
Due the spacing of their eyes, they can also see all four of their hooves at the same time.
- AGING GRACEFULLY
Healthy donkeys will often live into their 30’s, with some going on into their 40’s and even 50’s – something worth bearing in mind if you wanted to rehome a pair of donkeys.
- DIG THIS
In dry desert environments, wild donkeys and other equids have been known to dig wells to reach groundwater, bringing wider benefits to other species and plant life.
- STRIPEY COUSINS
According to their ancestral tree, donkeys are actually more closely related to zebra than horses.
Still want to know about these brilliant, inquisitive creatures? Head to The Donkey Sanctuary's website where for a limited period you can download one of their special World Donkey Day wallpapers:
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/world-donkey-day
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