Miscellany
We wanted to dedicate this page to donkeys of today, yesterday and tomorrow and allow you too to contribute with your stories and pictures, send them via email, you will see them published here!
Donkeys in pills
Donkeys are very affectionate animals and enjoy the companionship of people. They need companions or they will become very depressed.
They can live for 25 to 35 years of age, although it is not unusual for a well kept donkey to live to be 50!
Donkeys have an incredible memory, they can recognise areas and other donkeys they were with up to 25 years ago!
Donkeys have a reputation for stubborness, however, they are not so stubborn as they have a highly developed sense of self preservation. It is difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it sees as contrary to its own best interest or safety.
In the desert environment a donkey is able to hear the call of another donkey 60 miles away! Their large ears also help keep them cool.
Contrary to what is thought donkeys DO NOT kick or bite people unless they have been continuously treated cruelly or starved.
In 2007 Italian Postal Services issued a stamp to celebrate 7 official Italian breeds |
Donkeys belong to the family Equidae, together with horses and zebras. A mule comes from a donkey and a mare, a hinny from a horse and a jenny. Being cross breeds, mules and hinnies are sterile.
And what comes from a donkey and a zebra?
SAVE A WOLF ... GET A DONKEY!
Maybe it is not well known that donkeys are used as an excellent alternative to dogs to defend livestock herds against wolves, coyotes and other predators.
Although they are docile animals, donkeys are ferocius defenders of the herd or flock they associte with. Unlike other herd animals they do not tend to run or go into panic when accosted by wolves, coyotes, jackals, dogs or any other canine predators. They attack what they deem a threat and not only kick with deadly effect but also uses their teeth as a weapon. Donkeys like horses have a mean bite. |
Yet donkeys have also a strong sense of empathy and before pain of another creature, they are able to overcome their instinctive aversion and get on the side of the weak. Evidence is the story of a little donkey put into the cage of a wolf to be eaten, but amid incredulity of people around, they got immediately inseparable friends!
Donkeys can be very LARGE like mammouth donkeys, giant donkeys bred in the USA |
or very small like miniature donkeys, these too from the USA |
or very hairy like Poitou donkeys bred in France |
red like fire
or white like snow.
Sometimes they can be slightly reluctant to obey commands ...
other times they turn out to be excellent actors!
Jennies are protective proud moms. |
Donkey milk is very precious as it is scientifically proven to be the most similar to human milk in composition and it can cure allergy to proteins in vaccine milk, particularly appreciated because rich in lactose, so much to be mentioned in a Tamil saying "Even a crying baby giggles after drinking donkey milk".
Donkeys are powerful work animals, stronger than horses in proportion to their build, they can easily carry 30% of their body weight in live load, and draw much more, but you don't have to go too far! |
They remind us the way we were, memories of a past that turns into future.
Although they don't fly they inspired winged thoughts to various "poets":
Il raglio, tra le voci della natura, è una delle più intensamente drammatiche, espressione di un'urgenza irrimandabile, di una volontà di non tacere più dopo aver troppo taciuto. (Arch. P. Portoghesi) |
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Among nature voices, the bray is one of the most deeply dramatic, the expression of an undelayable need, the will not to be silent any longer after being silent for too long. (Arch. P. Portoghesi) |
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... e intanto/ nei giorni che hai contati/ nel niente sotto il sole/ a mascellate d'asino/ difenderai il tuo cuore. (V. Capossela) |
... in the meantime/ on days you have counted/ in nothing under the sun/ with donkey jaws/ you'll defend your heart. (V. Capossela) |