World Donkey Day | History | Importance & Characteristics of Donkey | Donkey Welfare

World Donkey Day is observed annually on May 8. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the importance of donkey and advocate for Donkey welfare. Donkeys have been domesticated for thousands of years and have played crucial roles in various human activities, including agriculture, transportation, and military support. Characteristics of Donkey support this animal for work.

مال برداری اور دیگر کاموں میں استعمال ہونے والے گدھوں کے حقوق، عائدہ انجم کی خصوصی تحریر

History of World Donkey Day and the Importance of Donkey

Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakar, a renowned livestock expert and scientist from Pakistan, introduced the idea of World Donkey Day. He worked for this day in 2010. Peta Jones from South Africa also supported this idea. In 2018, World Donkey Day emerged worldwide. Now it is 8 May, which is one week after Labor Day. Dr. Abdul Raziq Kakar also introduced the idea of Camel Day.

بھارتی ریاست گجرات میں گدھوں کی اعلیٰ نسل ہالاری کی مانگ بڑھ گئی

This day serves as an opportunity to highlight the importance of donkey. It highlights its contributions to human society. World Donkey Day also aims to draw attention to the challenges facing donkeys today. The day draws attention to improve the lives of donkeys around the world. This day demands care and respect for donkeys.

پاکستان میں ایک سال کے دوران گدھوں کی آبادی میں ایک لاکھ اضافہ

Characteristics of Donkey

Donkey belongs to the Equines family. Its other fellows in this family are horses and mules. A male donkey is called a jack or Jackass and a Female donkey is called a Jenny or jennet. On the other hand, a young donkey is called a foal. The offspring of a female donkey and male horse is called a hinny. The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse is a mule. The following are the characteristics of Donkey.

Size and Life Span

The size of the donkey varies depending on the donkey breed and its environment. Similarly, the life span of donkeys also varies with the environmental conditions. In developing countries, working donkeys have a life span of 12 to 15 years. On the other hand, in prosperous countries, have a life span of 30 to 50 years.

Color and Coat

Donkey varies in color, ranging from white to grey and black. It may have dark stripes from mane to tail. It may also have stripes in a cross pattern on the shoulders. The donkey has a thick coat of fur, which provides insulation against both cold and hot temperatures.

Body Shape

The donkey has a compact and sturdy body. It has strong legs and hooves. This body shape is for hardness, strength, and endurance rather than speed. Therefore, it makes it well-suited for carrying heavy loads through rough terrains. Donkeys are highly adaptable animals. They work in diverse conditions from arid deserts to mountainous regions. The donkey has a highly efficient digestive system. These characteristics of donkey make it a perfect working animal.

Ears of Donkey

The donkey has long ears measuring up to 10 inches in length. These ears serve practical purposes, such as keen hearing to detect predators and communicate with other donkeys.

Stubborn and Intelligent

Donkeys have a reputation for being stubborn. This is due to their cautious and thoughtful nature. On the other hand, they are quite intelligent. They have a strong sense of self-preservation. They show stubborn behaviors in case of pain or fear. The donkey also reacts toward the behavior and attitude of the handler. On the other hand, they have friendly and learning behavior. They have good memory, especially in the case of their working track.

گدھوں کیلئے خصوصی ان ہیلر بنا لیا گیا

Importance of Donkey

Donkeys are incredibly important to human societies for a variety of reasons. Historically they have been used in wars. Still, they have a very important role in the military along with mules. They transport military support to the hard areas where vehicle movement is not possible. They are good climber in hilly areas.

Their traditional use is as a working animal. They are very common for loading and transportation. They also help farmers in agriculture. Besides transportation, they also work plowing in some areas. They are also helpful for livestock. They commonly transport fodder in rural and urban areas. In some parts, including in Pakistan, they are also used to transport garbage. They have good senses for predators. They have strong vocalization to communicate.

چین پاکستان سے گدھے اور کتے درآمد کرنے کا خواہاں

Donkeys also guard livestock in herds from predators. They are good at companionship. They form strong bonds with humans and other animals, providing companionship and emotional support to their owners.

Importance of Donkey Working &  Donkey Welfare

As a working animal, there are many issues of Donkey welfare especially in developing countries. Donkey needs a balanced diet consisting of high-quality forage and fresh water. It also needs protection from extreme weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and wind. It requires adequate shelter for comfort. Moreover, it also needs veterinary care to maintain health. Donkeys should have good working conditions. It also needs rest and an adequate schedule.

Brooke is an international organization that is working for Donkey Welfare along with other equines. Similarly, Donkey Sanctuary, a UK-based animal welfare organization is also working for Donkeys.

اینیمل ویلفیئر اور لائیوسٹاک سیکٹر میں مئوثر رپورٹنگ کے موضوع پر بروک  پاکستان کے زیر اہتمام ورکشاپ کا انعقاد

Editor In Chief

Dr. Jassar Aftab is a qualified Veterinarian having expertise in veterinary communication. He is a renowned veterinary Journalist of Pakistan. He is veterinary columnist, veterinary writer and veterinary analyst. He is the author of three books. He has written a number of articles and columns on different topics related to livestock, dairy, poultry, wildlife, fisheries, food security and different aspects of animal sciences and veterinary education.

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