Observed annually on May 8th, World Donkey Day is a holiday that recognizes the contributions these pack animals have made to human civilization. Donkeys have been bearing the burdens of humans since before the beginning of the Roman Empire. Thanks to their uncanny ability to carry heavy loads, they have been used for over 6,000 years as pack animals, but nowadays, people are finding other purposes for them.

They are being used as livestock guardians and occasionally as companions for horses. These new roles take advantage of the animals’ natural alertness and intelligence. So, perhaps we all should use this holiday to learn more about these animals and what they can do.

The History of World Donkey Day

The domestic donkey is a species in the family Equidae, which just so happens to be the same family as the horse. It comes from Equus africanus, also known as the African Wild Ass, and it was domesticated in Africa approximately 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. It was domesticated to be a working animal and has been used in that capacity ever since.

Although donkeys have been perceived as being just dumb animals, the truth is that these animals are far from dumb. They are highly intelligent and have a high degree of natural alertness.

This makes them great companion animals, livestock guardians, and companions to horses. Of course, the one thing about donkeys that isn’t a misconception is their natural stubbornness. These animals are naturally stubborn, so people should keep that in mind before acquiring one.

Many people are fans of these animals, and that’s why there’s now a holiday dedicated to them. Although it took us quite a bit of research to find the origins of this holiday, we eventually found out that it was created by Ark Raziq. He was a scientist working on the study of desert animals.

During his research, he noticed that these animals were much more intelligent and had much more personality than people gave them credit for. This is when he decided to create World Donkey Day. In 2018, the holiday was officially observed for the first time.

Observing World Donkey Day

Everyone everywhere is encouraged to learn more about donkeys on World Donkey Day. After all, these are unique animals that really deserve more attention than they receive. This is also a good day to go on donkey rides or donate to organizations that take care of donkeys that have been abandoned by their owners or are no longer capable of doing their jobs. Donkey fans should also use the hashtag #WorldDonkeyDay on social media.