DONKEY!!!

I. LOVE. DONKEYS!!!!!!!!!

Fun facts:

Ass: An ass is either a male or female donkey.

Are donkeys smart? 

Yes, donkeys are very intelligent! They have a good memory and excellent ability to learn. In fact, according to a study released in 2013, we found out that donkeys in some situations can learn and problem-solve as quickly as dogs and dolphins. The more things a donkey learns, the faster they get at learning things in the future. Donkeys also remember both good and bad experiences for a long time and can even remember people’s faces if they’re in contact with them for a lengthy period. All donkeys are individuals, and some have better learning abilities than others due to their characters.

Donkeys' Vocalization Is Unique.

 The donkey's characteristic sound is called braying. It is unique among the equids because it requires an ability that donkeys have but horses and zebras lack: vocalizing while both inhaling and exhaling. The hee occurs during air intake, and the haw comes during air outflow. Despite this sound being specific to donkeys, there is still some variation. The duration and frequency of a bray, for instance, is unique to each individual animal.

 One Donkey Breed Is Impressively Hairy

The Poitou donkey was developed in the French Poitou region in the 18th century, and it is a standout among breeds created by humans. Used primarily to breed mules across Europe, it is known for its distinctive long coat that hangs in thick, matted cords called cadenettes, similar to dreadlocks. The longer and more matted the coat, the more prized the donkey. But as the use of donkeys and mules declined in the modern era, so too did the breeding of Poitou donkeys. By 1977, there were only 44 individuals left. Since then, numbers have been rising thanks to private breeders and conservation efforts.

Donkeys can breed with zebras!

They Can Act as Guard Animals

Donkeys are naturally aggressive toward canid animals. As a result, they are sometimes used as "guardians" for livestock — they can defend against a dog, coyote, fox, or even bobcat that's bothering a herd of sheep or goats. The livestock will begin to see the donkeys as protectors and gravitate toward them when they feel they are in danger.

They're Stubborn for a Reason

Donkeys are known for being obstinate, planting their feet and staying put regardless of how hard a handler pulls. But just because they have a tendency to resist doesn't mean they're dumb, as commonly assumed. Quite the opposite. Donkeys have a keen sense of self-preservation. If they feel they're in danger, rather than running away, they'll stand their ground and refuse to move, giving them time to make their own decision about whether or not it's safe to keep going forward. It's a distinct difference from horses which, when frightened, usually flee immediately.

8. Some Donkeys Are Tiny

Miniature donkeys are impressively small. Native to Sicily and Sardinia, they stand no taller than three feet high at the shoulder. The Guinness World Record for shortest donkey currently belongs to KneeHi at 25.29 inches tall, but another miniature donkey, Ottie, stood at 19 inches high when fully grown in 2017 and never officially received the title. It's important to note that unlike many other miniature animal breeds, the miniature donkey is not a bred-down version of the "normal" animal — its size is natural.

You may have heard of miniature donkeys, but have you heard of mammoth donkeys?

The largest mammoth donkey on record, whose name is Romulus, is 68 inches (5 feet 8 inches!) tall at their withers (the highest point of their shoulders)! Their head and ears make them even taller. On average, mammoth donkeys aren’t usually this big, but they’re still bigger than other donkey breeds.