The donkey (Equus africanus asinus) belongs to the family Equidae within the order Perissodactyla, which also includes horses and zebras. Domesticated from the African wild ass (Equus africanus) around 5,000 years ago, donkeys now inhabit every continent except Antarctica, thriving in arid and semi‑arid regions, temperate grasslands, and mountainous pastures. Their compact, muscular bodies are adapted for endurance; they possess long ears that aid thermoregulation, a short mane, and a coarse coat that ranges from gray and brown to black or white. Domestic donkeys are kept for transport, agriculture, and companionship, while the remaining wild populations of the African wild ass survive in isolated pockets of the Horn of Africa. Although the domestic subspecies is abundant, the wild form is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, with fewer than 7,000 individuals remaining. Conservation programs focus on habitat protection, anti‑poaching measures, and genetic management to prevent hybridization with domestic stock. Donkeys play a vital ecological role by grazing vegetation, dispersing seeds, and providing labor in regions where mechanized equipment is impractical.

Donkeys are highly social ungulates that form loose bands typically composed of one dominant male, several females, and their offspring. Within these groups, hierarchies are maintained through body posture, ear position, and occasional sparring. They are primarily diurnal, spending daylight hours grazing and resting, and they seek shelter during the hottest part of the day. Home ranges vary from a few square kilometers in fertile valleys to over 20 km² in desert environments, and individuals will travel several kilometers each day in search of water and quality forage. Communication relies on a repertoire of vocalizations, the most recognizable being the bray, which can travel up to three kilometers and conveys alarm, location, or social contact. Visual signals such as tail flicking, head tossing, and ear swiveling complement vocal cues, allowing donkeys to coordinate movement, establish dominance, and warn conspecifics of predators.

Donkeys are non‑ruminant herbivores that specialize in coarse, fibrous vegetation. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, hay, straw, and browse such as twigs and leaves, supplemented in managed settings with grains, carrots, and mineral blocks. A mature donkey consumes 1.5–2.5 % of its body weight in dry matter each day, equating to roughly 3–5 kg (6.6–11 lb) of forage. Their efficient digestive system extracts nutrients from low‑quality forage that many other livestock reject, allowing them to thrive in arid regions with sparse vegetation. Water intake averages 30–50 L per day in hot climates, and donkeys are capable of tolerating dehydration for several days by concentrating urine. Feeding strategies emphasize multiple small meals throughout daylight, and owners often provide salt licks to meet electrolyte needs.

Donkeys reach sexual maturity at 2–3 years for females and 3–4 years for males, although optimal breeding often occurs after 4 years. Breeding is not strictly seasonal; mares can conceive year‑round provided adequate nutrition and daylight. The gestation period lasts 11 months to 14 months, averaging 365 days, one of the longest among domestic mammals. Litter size is invariably one foal, which is born with a well‑developed sense of balance and can stand within an hour of birth. The dam nurses the foal for 6–12 months, gradually introducing solid feed such as hay and grains. Weaning typically occurs at 8–12 months, after which the young donkey joins the herd and learns foraging and social behaviors through observation and play.

The domestic donkey is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its global population exceeding 40 million, but its wild ancestor, the African wild ass (Equus africanus), is classified as Endangered. Wild populations are fragmented into three subspecies—Somali, Nubian, and Atlas—totaling fewer than 7,000 individuals, with the Atlas subspecies possibly extinct in the wild. Primary threats include habitat loss from agricultural expansion, competition for water, illegal hunting for meat and hides, and hybridization with domestic donkeys that erodes genetic purity. Climate change intensifies drought frequency, further reducing available forage and water sources. Conservation initiatives focus on establishing protected reserves, anti‑poaching patrols, community‑based livestock management, and captive‑breeding programs aimed at re‑introducing genetically pure individuals into their historic ranges.

• Donkeys have a highly efficient water‑conserving kidney, allowing them to survive up to 48 hours without drinking in desert conditions.
• Their bray can be heard up to three kilometers away and is used to locate herd members across vast, open terrain.
• Unlike horses, donkeys have a unique gait called a “pace” where both legs on the same side move together, providing stability on uneven ground.
• The smallest recorded donkey, a miniature breed, stands just 76 cm (30 in) at the shoulder, while the largest draft donkeys exceed 180 cm (71 in).
• Donkey milk contains higher levels of lysozyme and vitamin C than cow’s milk, making it a valuable nutritional source in some cultures.