Donkey
EN

Donkey

Equus asinus

Unknown

Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Justyn Stahl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Justyn Stahl

Overview

The donkey or ass is a domesticated equine. It derives from the African wild ass, Equus africanus, and may be classified either as a subspecies thereof, Equus africanus asinus, or as a separate species, Equus asinus. It was domesticated in Africa some 5000–7000 years ago, and has been used mainly as a working animal since that time.

About 41 million donkeys were reported worldwide in 2006. Some researchers believe the actual number may be somewhat higher since many donkeys go uncounted.

Threat summary

Habitat

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Equidae

HorseVU

Horse

Equus caballus

Unknown

Threatened in Afghanistan

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
small mallowVU

small mallow

Malva pusilla

Unknown
Tiger SawgillCR

Tiger Sawgill

Lentinus tigrinus

Unknown
EN

Malus komarovii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Donkey classified as Endangered?
Donkey is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. About 41 million donkeys were reported worldwide in 2006. Some researchers believe the actual number may be somewhat higher since many donkeys go uncounted.
Where does Donkey live?
Donkey occurs in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, and Argentina (plus 103 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Donkey?
The main threats to Donkey are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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