• ESDAW
    • Website information
    • Silence kills
    • Who we are
    • Contact
  • Humans
    • Homo Sapiens >
      • The modern human evolution
      • The Human Male
      • Tribes, terrorism and war
      • The Human Experiment
      • Stanford prison experiment
      • Animal abuse and Human abuse
      • The psychological roots of resource over-consumption
      • Boys don't cry
      • The Power of Media
      • #Meetoo
      • People protect what they love
      • Bread and circuses
      • Governments
    • Animals, Men and Morals
    • Heritage, tradition and culture >
      • Bad habits
      • Break bad habits
      • Blood fiestas
      • Superstition
      • Dog spinning
      • Break bad traditions
      • UNESCO
      • Bullfighting
      • Foie gras
      • Break bad cultures
    • Religion >
      • Freedom of religion
      • Religion & Animals
      • Animals in Islam
      • Halal slaughter (#)
      • Animals in Judaism
      • Kosher slaughter (#)
      • Break bad belief
    • Animal sacrifice
    • The food we eat >
      • Animal Kill Counter
      • Meat
      • Milk & Veal
      • Farm investigation (#)
      • Meat scandal
      • Animal transport
      • Animal ocean transportation
      • Animal slaughter
      • Animal slaughter (#)
      • A walk in a deserted abattoir
    • The clothes we wear
  • Business
    • The modern human progress
    • Business & Profits >
      • Capitalism & Greed
      • Stock market
      • Lobbying
      • Corruption
    • Big, big business >
      • Dog - breeding
      • Sale & buy
      • Trade & trafficking
      • Pet shops
    • The food industry >
      • Battery cage
      • Genetic engineering
      • Genetically Modified Foods
      • Pesticide and GMO Corporations
      • GMO - OMG
      • WHO about GMO
    • Animals in Sport & Competition >
      • Horse - sports
    • Animals in Entertainment >
      • Circus
      • Zoo
      • SeaWorld
    • Animal Testing >
      • Animal testing - Tobacco
      • Companion Animal - experiment
      • Soviet Space Dogs
      • Vivisection (#)
    • Animals and Gambling >
      • Dogfighting
      • Dogfighting documentry (#)
    • Fur business >
      • Companion Animal - fur, meat & skin
      • Fur farms
      • Fur & skin production
      • The BIG lie about FUR
      • Facts about Fur production in the EU
    • Fur trade >
      • The Fur trade history
      • Karakul Lambs
      • Fur trade - Canada & USA
      • Fur trade - China & Asia
      • Fur trade - Europe
      • Fur trade - Russia
    • Animals in tourism >
      • Born Free
  • Tourism
    • The ugly truth
    • Tourism - Cyprus (EU)
    • Tourism - France (EU)
    • Tourism - Greece (EU)
    • Tourism - Italy (EU)
    • Tourism - Portugal (EU)
    • Tourism - Spain (EU)
    • Tourism - Turkey (eu)
    • Travel Industry & Animal Welfare
    • Postcards
    • Postcards (#)
    • Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
    • Apollo Travel - Sweden
  • Animals
    • Domestication
    • Emotional Pain in Animals
    • Companion Animals
    • The Dog
    • Farm Animals
    • FAO - livestock
    • FAO - milk & dairy
  • The seven continents
    • Africa >
      • Dog meat - Africa
      • Wildlife Trade - Africa
    • Antartica
    • Asia >
      • The Moon Bears - Asia
      • China >
        • The indifference in China
        • Dr. Li explains animal cruelty in China
        • If I could tell you - China
        • Animal welfare and rights in China
        • Bear Bile Farming - China
        • Cat meat - China
        • Yulin Dog Meat Festival
        • Zoo - China
        • ‘Have you eaten?’ - China
        • Shark Fin - China
        • Dead pigs floating in river - China
        • Toxic food - China
        • Traditional Chinese medicine & food therapy
        • List of traditional Chinese medicines
        • Three Gorges Dam - China
      • Made in China >
        • The Illegal Wildlife Trade - China
        • Santa's real workshop - China
        • China’s Environmental Crisis
        • Dog-leather industry - China
        • Special locations in China
      • Indonesia >
        • Wild Animal Trade - Indonesia
      • Japan >
        • Culture & Traditions - Japan
        • Yakuza Mafia Syndicate - Japan
        • Society and Animal Welfare - Japan
        • Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Pet in Japan
        • The Tokyo 'euthanasia centre' for stray dogs
        • Dogfighting - Japan
      • Philippines >
        • Dog & cat meat - Philippines
      • Thailand >
        • Dog meat trade - Thailand
        • The sacred Bears in Thailand
      • Vietnam >
        • Dog & cat meat - Vietnam
        • The Bear Bile Trade - Vietnam
    • Australia & Oceania >
      • A Bloody Business - Australia
      • Trapping wild dogs - Australia
    • Europe
    • North America >
      • Canada
      • Canadian sealhunt
      • USA
      • American & International Corporations - China
      • CIrcus & Zoo - USA
      • Exotic pets - USA
      • Production chain
    • South America
  • Europe and the EU
    • The strays in Europe >
      • The cruel treatment
      • Accidents
      • Behind closed doors (#)
      • Captivity
      • Diseases
      • Dog catcher
      • Dog catcher (#)
      • Public shelter
      • Poisoning
      • Poisoning (#)
      • Victims (#)
    • Stray animals by country
    • Northern Europe >
      • Denmark (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Denmark
      • Estonia (EU)
      • Finland (EU)
      • Iceland (eu)
      • Ireland (EU) >
        • Society & Animal welfare - Ireland
        • Dogs - Ireland
      • Latvia (EU)
      • Lithuania (EU)
      • Norway
      • Sweden (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Sweden
        • Organic farming - Sweden
      • United Kingdom (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - UK
        • Culture - UK >
          • Circus - UK
        • Tradition - UK >
          • Hunting - UK
          • Puppy farms - UK
          • Sport & gambling - UK
        • Horses - UK
        • Farm animals - UK >
          • Organic farming - UK
    • Central Europe >
      • Austria (EU)
      • Belgium (EU) >
        • Farm animals - Belgium
      • Czech Republic (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Czech Republic
    • Eastern Europe >
      • Armenia >
        • Society and Animal welfare - Armenia
        • Non public shelter - Armenia
        • Dogs - Armenia (#)
        • Farm animals - Armenia
      • Belarus >
        • Society and animal welfare - Belarus
        • Fur farms - Belarus
      • Georgia >
        • Society and animal welfare - Georgia
        • Culture & tradition - Georgia
        • Dogs - Georgia
        • Public shelter - Georgia
      • Kosovo (eu)
      • Poland (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Poland
        • Public shelter - Poland
      • Romania (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Romania >
          • Society and animal welfare - Romania (#)
          • Beneath the streets of Romania
        • Cats - Romania
        • Dogs - Romania >
          • Dogs - Romania (#)
        • Public shelter - Romania >
          • Public shelter - Romania (#)
        • Non public shelter - Romania
        • Horses & Donkeys - Romania
        • Farm animals - Romania
      • Russia >
        • Society and animal welfare - Russia
        • Farm animals - Russia
        • Circus - Russia
      • Ukraine >
        • Society and animal welfare - Ukraine
        • Dogs - Ukraine
        • Ukraine massacre
    • Southeast Europe >
      • Bosnia & Herzegovina (eu) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Bosnia & Herzegovina >
          • Society and animal welfare - Bosnia & Herzegovina (#)
          • In memory of Vučko
        • Dogs - Bosnia & Herzegovina >
          • Dogs - Bosnia & Herzegovina (#)
        • Public shelter - Bosnia & Herzegovina >
          • Public shelter - Bosnia & Herzegovina (#)
        • Cats - Bosnia & Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Bulgaria
        • Tradition - Bulgaria >
          • Dog spinning - Bulgaria
          • The Bulgarian doorbells
        • Dogs - Bulgaria >
          • Dogs - Bulgaria (#)
          • Dog fighting - Bulgaria
        • Public shelter - Bulgaria
      • Macedonia FYR (eu) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Macedonia (#)
      • Serbia (eu) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Serbia
        • Culture & tradition - Serbia
        • Dogs - Serbia >
          • Dogs - Serbia (#)
        • Public shelter - Serbia
        • Dog fighting - Serbia
        • Serbia massacre
    • Southern Europe >
      • Albania (eu) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Albania
        • Dogs - Albania >
          • Dogs - Albania (#)
        • Zoo - Albania
      • Croatia (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Croatia
      • Cyprus (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Cyprus
        • Cats - Cyprus
        • Dogs - Cyprus
        • Non public shelter - Cyprus
        • Farm animals - Cyprus
      • France (EU) >
        • Culture - France >
          • Bullfighting - France
          • Foie gras - France
        • Tradition - France >
          • Hunting - France
      • Greece (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Greece >
          • Society and animal welfare - Greece (#)
        • Tradition - Greece >
          • The Barrel dogs - Greece
        • Cats - Greece
        • Dogs - Greece
        • Public shelter - Greece
        • Greece massacre
        • Horses & Donkeys - Greece
      • Italy (EU) >
        • Society & animal welfare - Italy >
          • Society and animal welfare - Italy (#)
        • Culture & tradition - Italy
        • Public shelter - Italy
      • Vatican City State >
        • Animal welfare - Vatican City State
      • Malta (EU) >
        • Dogs - Malta
      • Portugal (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Portugal
        • Culture - Portugal >
          • Bullfighting - Portugal
        • Tradition - Portugal >
          • Hunting dogs - Portugal
        • Public shelter - Portugal
        • Farm animals - Portugal
        • Fur animals - Portugal
      • Spain (EU) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Spain
        • Culture & tradition - Spain >
          • Bullfighting - Spain
          • Blood fiestas - Spain
          • Fiestas & celebrations - Spain
        • Cats - Spain
        • Dogs - Spain >
          • Hunting dogs - Spain
          • Hunting dogs - Spain (#)
          • Hunting tools - Tenerife
          • Racing dogs - Spain
        • Public shelter - Spain >
          • Public shelter - Spain (#)
        • Non public shelter - Spain
        • Horses & Donkeys - Spain
        • Farm animals - Spain
      • Turkey (eu) >
        • Society and animal welfare - Turkey >
          • Society and animal welfare - Turkey (#)
          • Mafia, crime and corruption - Turkey (#)
        • Cats - Turkey
        • Dogs - Turkey
        • Public shelter - Turkey >
          • Public shelter - Turkey (#)
        • Turkey massacre
        • Farm Animals - Turkey
  • Global
    • The Global People
    • Food Industry >
      • Genetic engineering
      • The processed food
    • Organic agriculture >
      • Organic farming
    • Environmental degradation >
      • Overconsumption
      • Water shortage
    • Ecological footprint >
      • Land
      • Ocean
      • Population Matters
  • EU
    • ESDAW-EU
    • Animal Welfare - EU
    • The excluded animals
    • The management of strays
    • The pet and stray framework
  • Let's get political
    • Wage labour & Wage slavery >
      • Citizen's income
    • Europe >
      • Animal Welfare Parties in Europe
      • European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes
      • European Convention for the protection of pet animals
    • European Union >
      • ESDAW-EU.EU
      • EU - Organisation
      • EU - Trade
      • Your Europe
      • EU - Political groups
      • MEPs
      • Contact with the EU
      • Animal Welfare Parties in the European Parliament
      • Matters concerning companion animals
      • Law and Regulation
      • European Citizens Initiative
      • Intergroup
      • Eurogroup
    • Embargo
  • More
    • Let's get involved >
      • Activism
      • Animal Welfarism
      • Anti-consumerism
      • Consumer Power
      • Buycott
      • Environmentalism
      • Fairtrade
      • Freeganism
      • Social movement
      • Veganism
      • Vegetarianism
      • Whistleblower
    • I Am
    • The Road To Hell
    • The Mad Veterinarian
    • Free your mind ....
  • TEST
ESDAW

The Donkey

Picture
The donkey or ass, Equus africanus asinus, is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African Wild Ass, E. africanus. 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).

The name Jack was so common at one point that it was used for addressing any male. It was eventually used to designate any male person, male animals, and even a variety of inanimate objects, such as a jack for lifting heavy loads. Hence the names lumberjack, jackass, jackrabbit, bootjack, jack-of-all-trades, and even Jack the Ripper.

A little more confusing is how the female donkey became known as the jenny ass. Nowadays Jenny is short for Jennifer, but there were few Jennifers hundreds of years ago when “Jenny ass” became Jack’s counterpart. It turns out that, back then, the name Jenny was also short for Guinevere, an extremely common English name for girls hundreds of years ago.

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, 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 millennia.


Picture
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 man, it is considerably more difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it perceives to be dangerous for whatever reason.

Although formal studies of their behaviour and cognition are rather limited, donkeys appear to be quite intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful, and eager to learn.

They are often pastured or stabled with horses and ponies, and are thought to have a calming effect on nervous horses. If a donkey is introduced to a mare and foal, the foal will often turn to the donkey for support after it has been weaned from its mother.


Picture
There are about 44 million donkeys today. China has the most with 11 million, followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia and Mexico. Some researchers believe the actual number is somewhat higher since many donkeys go uncounted.


The number of donkeys in the world continues to grow, as it has steadily throughout most of history.

Some factors contributing to this are increasing human population, progress in economic development and social stability in some poorer nations, conversion of forests to farm and range land, rising prices of motor vehicles and fuel, and donkeys' popularity as pets.

In prosperous countries, the welfare of donkeys both at home and abroad has recently become a concern, and a number of sanctuaries for retired and rescued donkeys have been set up.

The largest is the Donkey Sanctuary of England, which also supports donkey welfare projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, and Mexico - Source

Picture
Picture
Once a person has earned their confidence they can be willing and companion-able partners and very dependable in work.

For this reason, they are now commonly kept as pets in countries where their use as beasts of burden has disappeared.

Donkey rides for children are also a popular pastime for children in holiday resorts or other leisure contexts.

The vast majority of donkeys are used for the same types of work that they have been doing for 6000 years. Their most common role is for transport, whether riding, pack transport, or pulling carts. They may also be used for farm tillage, threshing, raising water, milling, and other jobs. Other donkeys are used to sire mules, as companions for horses, to guard sheep, and as pets. A few are milked or raised for meat.
ESDAW® is not responsible for the content of external sites.