By Tim Lambert
It’s believed that donkeys were domesticated in East Africa approximately 4,000 BC. They quickly spread to Egypt and Iraq. Donkeys were very useful beasts of burden. They were used to pull carts. They were also ridden. Donkeys are mentioned several times in the Bible. Jesus rode a donkey when he entered Jerusalem.
The Romans took donkeys to parts of northern Europe. The Romans used donkeys and mules (the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse) for pulling or carrying heavy loads. The Romans first brought donkeys to Britain after they invaded in 43 AD.
The Spanish took donkeys to North America at the end of the 15th century.
In the late 19th century, donkey rides became popular in British seaside resorts.
Donkeys also provide milk. In some cultures, they also provided meat.
A donkey was originally called an ass. The word donkey was first used in the late 18th century. Nobody is sure why. It may come from dun, describing their colour. Or maybe it’s from the name Duncan. Perhaps they were called ‘Dunky’ as a pet name.
A donkey appears in one of Aesop’s fables. In a fable called The Ass in the Lion’s Skin a donkey is shown as a fool. (In fact, donkeys are intelligent animals). A donkey also appears in the story The Golden Ass by the Roman writer Apuleius.
Perhaps the most famous fictional donkey is Eeyore. He appeared in the book Winnie the Pooh, published in 1926. The story Lucinda the Little Donkey by Irma Wilde was published in 1952. An animated donkey appeared in Shrek, made in 2001.
Today, donkeys are still vital animals in developing countries. There are an estimated 60 million donkeys in the world.
Lastly, World Donkey Day is 8 May.
