NAMX0004 e1 DF LM small
African Wild Donkey - Equus africanus asinus
Ngepi Lodge, near the RIver Kavango, seen here with two Ox Peckers.
The donkey or ass is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, E. africanus. The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years. There are more than 40 million donkeys in the world, mostly in underdeveloped countries, where they are used principally as draught or pack animals. Working donkeys are often associated with those living at or below subsistence levels. Small numbers of donkeys are kept for breeding or as pets in developed countries.
A male donkey or ass is called a jack, a female a jenny or jennet; a young donkey is a foal. Jack donkeys are often used to mate with female horses to produce mules; the biological "reciprocal" of a mule, from a stallion and jenny as its parents instead, is called a hinny.
Asses were first domesticated around 3000 BC, probably in Egypt or Mesopotamia, and have spread around the world. They continue to fill important roles in many places today. While domesticated species are increasing in numbers, the African wild ass is an endangered species. As beasts of burden and companions, asses and donkeys have worked together with humans for millennia.
Donkeys are adapted to marginal desert lands. Unlike wild and feral horses, wild donkeys in dry areas are solitary and do not form harems. Each adult donkey establishes a home range; breeding over a large area may be dominated by one jack. The loud call or bray of the donkey, which typically lasts for twenty seconds and can be heard for over three kilometres, may help keep in contact with other donkeys over the wide spaces of the desert. Donkeys have large ears, which may pick up more distant sounds, and may help cool the donkey's blood. Donkeys can defend themselves by biting, striking with the front hooves or kicking with the hind legs.
Donkeys have a notorious reputation for stubbornness, but this has been attributed to a much stronger sense of self-preservation than exhibited by horses. Likely based on a stronger prey instinct and a weaker connection with humans, it is considerably more difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it perceives to be dangerous for whatever reason. Once a person has earned their confidence they can be willing and companionable partners and very dependable in work.
Although formal studies of their behaviour and cognition are rather limited, donkeys appear to be quite intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful, and eager to learn.
With a population of a little over two million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Almost three quarters of the country is covered by the arid Kalahari desert and droughts are a common problem in the country. The population is made up of a variety of ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Tswana. For Botswanan farmers, working animals such as donkeys, horses and cows are integral to their survival. In the northern town of Maun alone, there are more than 24,000 donkeys which due to their abundance, tend to be considered ‘low status’ animals. Donkeys, mules, and horses are used for transportation while over 50 per cent of households depend on cattle as their largest source of rural income.
The biggest problems for working animals in Botswana are poor treatment due to lack of education and the lack of equipment. The average person in the region where we work lives on less than one dollar a day, and there are often six people living in a single mud hut without water or electricity. People just don’t have the resources to look after all of their animals.
SPANA is the world’s leading charity helping all species of working animals – and, for many animals, SPANA vets are the only ones they’ll ever see. SPANA protects working animals today by vet treatment and help in emergencies. SPANA is building a better future for working animals by teaching children compassion and training owners in proper care.
NAMX0004 e1 DF LM small
African Wild Donkey - Equus africanus asinus
Ngepi Lodge, near the RIver Kavango, seen here with two Ox Peckers.
The donkey or ass is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, E. africanus. The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years. There are more than 40 million donkeys in the world, mostly in underdeveloped countries, where they are used principally as draught or pack animals. Working donkeys are often associated with those living at or below subsistence levels. Small numbers of donkeys are kept for breeding or as pets in developed countries.
A male donkey or ass is called a jack, a female a jenny or jennet; a young donkey is a foal. Jack donkeys are often used to mate with female horses to produce mules; the biological "reciprocal" of a mule, from a stallion and jenny as its parents instead, is called a hinny.
Asses were first domesticated around 3000 BC, probably in Egypt or Mesopotamia, and have spread around the world. They continue to fill important roles in many places today. While domesticated species are increasing in numbers, the African wild ass is an endangered species. As beasts of burden and companions, asses and donkeys have worked together with humans for millennia.
Donkeys are adapted to marginal desert lands. Unlike wild and feral horses, wild donkeys in dry areas are solitary and do not form harems. Each adult donkey establishes a home range; breeding over a large area may be dominated by one jack. The loud call or bray of the donkey, which typically lasts for twenty seconds and can be heard for over three kilometres, may help keep in contact with other donkeys over the wide spaces of the desert. Donkeys have large ears, which may pick up more distant sounds, and may help cool the donkey's blood. Donkeys can defend themselves by biting, striking with the front hooves or kicking with the hind legs.
Donkeys have a notorious reputation for stubbornness, but this has been attributed to a much stronger sense of self-preservation than exhibited by horses. Likely based on a stronger prey instinct and a weaker connection with humans, it is considerably more difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it perceives to be dangerous for whatever reason. Once a person has earned their confidence they can be willing and companionable partners and very dependable in work.
Although formal studies of their behaviour and cognition are rather limited, donkeys appear to be quite intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful, and eager to learn.
With a population of a little over two million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Almost three quarters of the country is covered by the arid Kalahari desert and droughts are a common problem in the country. The population is made up of a variety of ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Tswana. For Botswanan farmers, working animals such as donkeys, horses and cows are integral to their survival. In the northern town of Maun alone, there are more than 24,000 donkeys which due to their abundance, tend to be considered ‘low status’ animals. Donkeys, mules, and horses are used for transportation while over 50 per cent of households depend on cattle as their largest source of rural income.
The biggest problems for working animals in Botswana are poor treatment due to lack of education and the lack of equipment. The average person in the region where we work lives on less than one dollar a day, and there are often six people living in a single mud hut without water or electricity. People just don’t have the resources to look after all of their animals.
SPANA is the world’s leading charity helping all species of working animals – and, for many animals, SPANA vets are the only ones they’ll ever see. SPANA protects working animals today by vet treatment and help in emergencies. SPANA is building a better future for working animals by teaching children compassion and training owners in proper care.