The donkey, Equus asinus, is gradually disappearing from the UK countryside, 2,000 years after being introduced to Britain by the Romans. One of the first animals domesticated by man, they were used as pack animals and for pulling carts and became, in Victorian times, a favourite for children’s seaside rides. But for decades donkey numbers have been dwindling and now stand at 27,000, with most kept as pets, although 6,500 donkeys live in much-visited donkey sanctuaries. As working animals they are a rarity even for beach rides.
Described as calmer and more intelligent than horses, they live about 30 to 40 years and have a distinctive “hee-haw” call that can be heard 3km away.
