What are donkeys? Why do they have such big ears? And why do they bray so loudly? The experts at The Donkey Sanctuary explain all you need to know about these incredible animals <\/p>
Donkeys are probably most known for their large ears but although they look like mini-horses, they are their own distinct species, says Liz Hazell-Smith,\u00a0research assistant at The Donkey Sanctuary<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/em>Millions of years ago horses and donkeys evolved from the same common ancestor Dinohippus<\/em>. Their evolutionary journey diverged and as a result the two species have developed differing environmental adaptations\u00a0and these have implications for the way we keep them. <\/p> Donkeys are descended from the African Wild Ass, and evolved to survive in semi-arid, mountainous environments with sparse food sources and intermittent access to water, whereas horses evolved on the lush, open grasslands of central Asia and Europe, in comparatively colder climates with abundant food and water sources. <\/p> This resulted in horses being grazers, who are adapted to live in grassy areas with readily available water sources, whereas donkeys are more browsers and better suited to eating rough vegetation and browsing on shrubs and bushes. Donkeys are also better adapted to hotter, drier climates; their large ears being ideal for body heat dissipation.<\/p> Due to differing herd structure in their evolutionary history,\u00a0which saw donkeys living together in smaller numbers\u00a0much of the time in arid conditions where food was sparse, donkeys may display territorial or guarding behaviour whereas horses rarely show this type of behaviour.<\/p> This may play out when donkeys can be seen to defend\u00a0their\u00a0companions against intruders, which may in fact be other animals, such as dogs<\/a>, goats<\/a>, chickens<\/a> etc.\u00a0<\/p> Horses evolved on grassy plains, where abundant food allowed them to form larger groups consisting of animals of different ages and sexes. Due to the plentiful food supply, competition for resources is minimal. Stallions aim to establish a stable herd of mares for breeding, while those without their own herd often form bachelor bands<\/p> Donkeys are particularly known for their\u00a0loud bray, an essential evolutionary adaptation that allow them to communicate over long distances<\/p> Donkey hoof structure\u00a0differs from that of the horse.\u00a0The donkey foot is much more absorbent\u00a0of environmental moisture\u00a0–\u00a0useful in their dry ancestral homes but not so useful in damp temperate climates.\u00a0This is why it is important to have\u00a0an area which is dry\u00a0underfoot, such as concrete\u00a0hard-standing,\u00a0available for domestic donkeys so that they are not standing on wet ground.\u00a0<\/p> Prolonged standing on wet ground is very commonly implicated in the development of hoof conditions such as thrush and white line disease, which can be painful and difficult to treat.\u00a0Hoof angles are also different, with the donkey hoof appearing much\u00a0more boxy\u00a0compared to the horses. <\/p> Farriers must have\u00a0knowledge of the donkey hoof when trimming to promote good hoof balance and prevent lameness.\u00a0The inner\u00a0hoof structures are also different which becomes important when x-raying\u00a0and may have an impact on clinical decision making, especially if x-ray results were to be incorrectly interpreted.\u00a0<\/p> Donkeys, like other equines, have\u00a0a keen fight or flight<\/a> nervous system response. However, compared with horses, the donkeys fight\u00a0defence\u00a0mechanism is\u00a0more easily engaged and can be seen in\u00a0donkeys\u00a0displaying more\u00a0behaviour in the range of standing their ground, or even taking\u00a0aggressive action when faced with a\u00a0threat.\u00a0<\/p>Are donkeys and horses related?<\/h2>
Are donkeys are herd animals?<\/h2>
How does a donkey’s foot differ to a horses foot?<\/h2>
Why do donkeys kick?<\/h2>