A2 27 2012 Ylmazetal TheDomesticatedDonkeyIEconomicImportanceUncommonUsageetc 8 9 PDF

Can J App Sci 2012; 4(2): 339-353 Orhan et al.
, 2012
Figure 12. Some possible markings around a donkey’s head

(www.donkeypower.donkecology.com)
Donkeys can defend themselves with a powerful kick of their hind legs, but they can also
chop down with their front legs from a rearing position, or even with one foreleg on the
ground, and have been known to kill dogs in this way. A donkey' s eyes are placed such that it
can see all four feet at any one time, 19 and they are notable careful about where they put their
feet, even when they are moving fast.
Territorial males are dominant over individuals of their own species. Adults of both sexes are
dominant over juveniles. No regular leadership is observed in large groups. 7 Territorial
stallions chase or escort intruding males away from the mares. A territorial donkey stallion
shows dominance by posture: holding their head upright, forward facing ears, ritual chasing of
other stallions and examination of other individuals’ scents. As seen in all equids and
mammals generally, donkey foals engage in many play behaviours. They frolic, run, chase,
buck, jump and leap. They toy with interesting objects in their environment. They pick up,
carry, sniff, chew, shake, pull or paw items. Foals mount other young and also adults. They
engage in ‘King of the Mountain’ competitions, block passageways to exclude others, and
engage in play fighting. At the age of one year, a donkey foal still spends most of its time no
more than 10 m away from mother,2 and may not be weaned until the next foal is born to its
mother, sometimes not even then.
Donkeys are herd animals and, while preferring their own species, can adapt to live in groups
of a different species such as horses, sheep and goats. 1, 11
345
Can J App Sci 2012; 4(2): 339-353 Orhan et al., 2012
Figure 13. Mystery location (www.donkeypower.donkecology.com)

Vocal expression
Donkeys tend to express themselves vocally only when they know they can be heard, and that
attention will be paid to their needs.
• Braying: Donkeys have developed very loud voices, really raspy and brassy. The bray
is the characteristic ‘hee-haw’ as “aw-ee, aw-ee” and can be heard for over 3
kilometres. This enables donkeys to keep in touch with other members of their herd
over the wide spaces of the desert, 19 and is often an expression of frustration or
loneliness. 14 Jacks especially seem to enjoy braying and will ‘sound off’ at any
opportunity (www.lovelongears.com 2011). 18
• Donkeys are adapted to living in arid or semi-arid areas and so need to separate
somewhat for grazing and browsing; therefore braying is significantly important in
their life in case of danger. 7 The bray is produced during both the air intake for the
“ee” and air outflow for the “aw”. Typically, braying consists of a series of brays,
primarily by males. They are mechanically produced with some variation and
terminated when the animal becomes short of breath. The acoustic character, duration
and sequence, some “ee-aw, while others “aw-ee”, are unique to each animal. 6
• Other sounds: Donkeys have a considerable vocal range. Even within the bray,
experienced listeners can detect differences in emphasis and intent. A donkey facing
danger can make a sound very like the roar of a lion, and in more intimate situations,
as when a donkey is expecting food or meeting a friend after an absence, there are
various grunts and whines that can convey its feelings.
Colour
Colours in the donkey range from the gray shades of gray-dun to brown, black, light-faced
roan (both red and gray), variants of sorrel, the blue-eyed ivory, frosted/spotted white, bay
and spotted pattern. Real horse Pinto, Horse aging gray, horse Appaloosa, Palomino and
buckskin colours do not occur in the donkey (www.lovelongears.com 2011). 18
Although most donkeys are of the familiar gray-dun colour, theycan have lots of colour
shades. Most donkeys have dorsal stripes and shoulder crosses, leg barring (garters), dark ear
marks as well as light points, white muzzle and eye rings, white belly and inner legs. 18 Unless
white all over, they do not haveany white colour on their rump. 7
346

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Can J App Sci 2012; 4(2): 339-353 Orhan et al.

Figure 12. Some possible markings around a donkey’s head

Figure 13. Mystery location (www.donkeypower.donkecology.com)

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