“…and today we’re talking about a humble stead that once had a grand rider. But more on that later.”
Few animals gain widespread cultural significance in the human world. But a creature known for stubbornness, hardiness, and humility, also once shared its manger on a very important birthday. Today, it’s name is proclaimed with the words, “see, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” But humility often hides a hidden value in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.
Description of the Wild African Donkey
- A slender, light gray-to-white body, with black stripes on its legs like it can’t decide if it’s a donkey or a zebra.
- Thin, donkey short fur
- Long donkey ears that would make Bugs Bunny jealous, perfect for hearing and dissipating heat.
- A dark donkey mane running along its neck, because even desert animals need a little flair.
- Hooves designed like custom off-road tires for surviving the rugged desert terrain.
- Subspecies include the nubian wild donkey, somali wild donkey, atlas wild donkey, and the domestic donkey
Measure Up
Nestor the long eared christmas donkey
Height
1.2 metres (4 ft)
- 96 holly berries (drupes)
- 78.6 mistletoe leaves
- 5.4 donkeys go into the largest Christmas wreath
A wreath in Goto, Nagasaki, Japan was 6.51 meters (21 feet 4 inches) in diameter.
Weight
250 kilograms (600 lb)
- 12 six foot douglas firs
- 5 ladies dancing
- 25 barbie dreamhouse playsets
The Barbie Dreamhouse was among the best selling Toys of Christmas 2023.
Fast Facts about the African Wild Donkey
- Range: Native to arid regions of northeastern Africa, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
- Habitat: Deserts and semi-deserts, where survival is just a daily “Are you kidding me?” situation.
- Diet: Herbivore, munching on whatever dry, scrubby vegetation it can find.
- Social Behavior: They are territorial and have territories of around 15 square miles.
- There is a dominant male in each territory and all other males are subordinates while being given a restraining order for the females.
- Most hooved animals tend to run away when danger comes a-knockin but the donkey likes to investigate, then kick. They can run up to 43 mph, which is one mph slower than the fastest horse
- Sounds: Makes a loud, braying call, like a rusty hinge yelling into the void.
- Lifespan: 20-25 years in the wild, which is impressive given their “life is hard mode” environment.
- Predators: Lions, hyenas, and sometimes humans who think “rare donkey” sounds tasty.
- Critically Endangered: only 570 left in the wild, though there are plenty of donkeys in the world
- Donkeys have been domesticated and used by humans to pull carts and till fields for almost 5000 years
Major Fact: Dessert Power
The African wild ass is remarkably adapted to thrive in desert and semidesert conditions. With robust digestive systems, they can efficiently process and draw moisture from the sparse desert flora. Their ability to go extended periods without water is essential in such arid environments.
Their large ears provide both exceptional hearing and help dissipate heat. Unlike the dense herds of wild horses, African wild asses tend to live more independently, except for the bond between mothers and their young. Their powerful, braying calls, audible over 3 kilometers (1.9 miles), enable them to stay connected across the vast desert landscape.
The hooves of the African wild ass are specially adapted for life in the desert. Here’s how:
- Durability: Their hooves are tough and robust, allowing them to navigate rocky, abrasive terrain without injury.
- Shape: The hooves are narrow and pointed, which helps them grip and move efficiently on loose sand and rocky surfaces.
- Absorption: They have a strong cushioning effect, which helps in absorbing shock from walking on hard, uneven ground.
- Flexibility: Their hooves are flexible, which provides better balance and stability on rough, uneven desert landscapes.
These adaptations enable them to cover long distances in search of food and water, ensuring their survival in the harsh desert environment.
Hey, Taxonomy Titans! Thanks for listening to another year of Life, Death, and Taxonomy. Whether you’re baking Christmas cookies, traveling to see family, or sitting by the fire, we’re glad you’re enjoying a little animal info. We’ll see you again in 2025. But in the meantime, Marry Christmas, Happy New Year, and thanks for listening.
Ending: So kick up your clown shoe hooves, race across the desert, and sniff out that water source like a living dowsing rod like the African Wild Donkey.