Sicilian Donkey
Equs asinus

Lots of "eee-awww" in a little package:
Sicilian donkeys have a head and body length of 75-80 inches, a tail length of 17-18 inches, a shoulder height of 26-36 inches, and a weight of 250-450 lbs.

Where does the Sicilian Donkey come from?
The Sicilian Donkey originaly comes from Egypt, where it was domesticated 6,000 years ago.

This Donkey's Digs: Open plains and plateaus.

I could eat this stuff all day!
Hay, grass, oats and grain are the choice foods for this donkey, and lots of it! The donkey will graze from dawn until late morning and then again in the late afternoon.

The birds and bees on donkeys:
The male donkey is called a "Jack" and the female a "Jennet." Jennets start to show signs of estrus in March, and then continue to cycle normally every 21 to 28 days until conception occurs, or towards year end in November or December.
The jennet will carry a foal an average of 12 months before giving birth; the length of gestation ranges from 11 to almost 14 months.

Lifespan: The Sicilian Donkey can live to be 30 to 40 years old.

Sweet, through and through:
Sicilian donkeys are considered to be docile and intelligent, and are known for their sweet, affectionate disposition. Donkey's milk contains more sugar and protein than cow's milk and was once considered valuable for infants and the infirm.

Status:The Sicilian Donkey is listed as a "WATCH" species by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. This means that the global population of the Sicilian Donkey is estimated to be less than 10,000.

Australasia | Conservation Corner | Madagascar |
Marco Polo Trail | North America | Plains of Africa | Tropical America