Donkeys live in most areas of the world, alongside humans, and are an integral presence in many cultures. Although not as widely used anymore in the developed world, they are still pulling carts in Africa, bearing heavy loads in India, carrying tourists in Greece and taking children for rides along British beaches. In spite of how long they have been domesticated (approximately 10,000 years) and how valuable they have been in human history (carrying crops and produce, hauling rocks and timber, transporting food and equipment for armies, turning millstones for flour...), we know remarkably little about them. Experts in animal traction consider donkeys to be one of the best draught animals - they have the longest working life (donkeys have been know to live up to 50 years of age), are able to work in the driest of areas, they manage on the least amount of food, are the least disease-prone, are able to work at variable speeds and have a high learning ability by comparison to horses, mules and oxen. In spite of how important donkeys have proven to be to people in the past and present day, they are among the most used, and abused, animals in history.
A 'pace' or herd of donkeys resting before breakfast at The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.