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Donkeys are famous for being stubborn and hardheaded, a reputation that has been well-earned. This particular personality trait seems to be connected to a well-defined instinct for danger and a fairly delicate bond with mankind, making them less malleable to our will than their more compliant cousins, horses. However, with a... more »
Donkeys are members of the Equidae or horse family, and bear a resemblance to horses and ponies. Ranging in size from 10 to 16 hands (a hand is a unit of measurement for equines; each hand is 4 inches and animals are measured from the ground to the withers, or top of the shoulder), donkeys are used today as work animals and companion... more »
Horse rescues need foster homes to help rehabilitate, house and handle needy horses, donkeys and mules. Fostering is a wonderful way to help horses and learn more about handling, care and training. more »
In every generation, there are people who care deeply about animal life and are more drawn to working with animals than with other humans. These people receive much personal satisfaction from supporting and providing care to animals and, in return, they help the ecological balance of the world. Many individuals also have careers that... more »
Zebras fall within the Equidae family. They are one of the more recognizable animals on Earth due to their trademark black-and-white stripes and generally grow to be about 650 pounds, with some ranging to more than 900 pounds. more »
Do you want to teach a horse how to back up? Perhaps you need advice on how to care for a...
A relatively rare domestic animal today, donkeys suffer abuse and neglect at a greater rate than other equines in the United States. If you're... more »
If you love donkeys, you may want to share that love with others by selling your donkeys. There is a growing market for donkeys, especially... more »
If you want to own a donkey, you are going to need a pen to house the animal. Your pen should include a fence strong enough to contain the donkey... more »
Though most people don't bother with grooming a donkey, the process is much like grooming a horse. Grooming a donkey not only allows you to clean... more »
Donkeys are becoming beloved as pets because of their affectionate nature and intelligence. These sweet animals respond well to the right... more »
The donkey or ass, Equus africanus asinus,Opinion2007> is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family, and an odd-toed ungulate. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African Wild Ass, E. africanus. Traditionally, the scientific name for the donkey is Equus asinus asinus based on the principle of priority used for scientific names of animals. However, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature has ruled in 2003 that if the domestic species and the wild species are considered subspecies of each other, the scientific name of the wild species has priority, even when that subspecies has been described after the domestic subspecies.Opinion2007/> This means that the proper scientific name for the donkey is Equus africanus asinus when it is considered a subspecies, and Equus asinus when it is considered a species.
In the western United States, a small donkey is sometimes called a burro (from the Spanish word for the animal).
A male donkey or ass is called a jack, a female a jenny, and offspring less than one year old, a foal (male: colt, female filly).
While different species of the Equidae family can interbreed, offspring are almost always sterile. Nonetheless, horse/donkey hybrids are popular for their durability and vigor. A mule is the offspring of a jack (male donkey) and a mare (female horse). The much rarer successful mating of a male horse and a female donkey produces a hinny.
Asses were first domesticated around 3000 BC, Rossel S, Marshall F et al. "Domestication of the donkey: Timing, processes, and indicators." PNAS 105(10):3715-3720. March 11, 2008. approximately the same time as the horse, and have spread around the world. They continue to fill important roles in many places today and domesticated species are increasing in numbers, but the African wild ass and another relative, the Onager, are endangered. As "beasts of burden" and companions, asses and donkeys have worked together with humans for centuries read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey
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