By Obiabin Onukwugha
Donkey are a domesticated equine. It derives from the African wild ass, Equus africanus. It was domesticated in Africa some 5000–7000 years ago, and has been used mainly as a working animal since that time.
There are three main types of donkeys: wild, feral and domesticated. Wild donkeys typically grow to around 49 inches (125 centimeters) from hoof to shoulder and weigh around 551 pounds. (250 kilograms). On average, domesticated donkeys are slightly smaller than their wild cousins, typically weighing from 400 to 500 pounds (180 to 225 kg) and measuring 36 to 48 inches (92 to 123 cm) from hoof to shoulder.
Adult male donkeys are referred to as jack or jackass, the adult female is called jenny or jennet, while an immature donkey of either sex is a foal.
However, most parts of Nigeria call it Jacky.
Jacks are often mated with female horses (mares) to produce mules; the less common hybrid of a male horse – stallion.
Donkeys have a muscle layer covering their jugular veins for extra protection from predators’ bites.
They are much stronger than horses.
Also, donkeys have much more efficient gastrointestinal tracts than horses and utilize up to 95% of what they eat. A donkey’s bray can be heard from as far away as 60 miles in the desert. Their large ears are full of blood vessels designed to dissipate heat and help keep their body temperatures cool.
They are highly intelligent creatures, sociable and calm, capable of independent thinking and decision making. They are strong and won’t do something they consider unsafe, which makes them a great, trusted companion.
Donkeys are voracious grazers that typically like to eat grass, though they also eat shrubs and desert plants. Instead of tearing at grass with their teeth, donkeys grab the plant with their lips, pull it into their mouth, then rip it with their flat teeth and grind it down for swallowing.
Scientists say female donkeys have a gestation period of around 12 months, Foals weigh between 19 and 30 pounds (8.6 to 13.6 kg) at birth and can stand and nurse just 30 minutes after birth. At 5 months, foals are weaned and at 2 years they are old enough to mate. Females typically give birth to a new foal each year.
The average lifespan of a donkey is about 25 years, although this can vary greatly depending on where the donkey is located. Many donkeys live over 40 years, and the oldest donkey on record lived to be 54 years old.
Igbos.call it “Ịnyịnya ịbu”, Hausas call it “Jaki”, while the Yorubas call it “kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́.”
Donkeys are a vital component of rural development and a significant mode of transportation for pastoral communities. They enable farmers to access distant markets in which to sell their produce, which would be inaccessible if it were not for their donkeys being able to carry their products over long distances.
In most sub-saharan African communities, donkeys are used as means of transportation for both goods and humans.
The washerman’s Donkey
The story of the washerman Donkey was told by the monkey after the shark, wanted to surreptitiously take his heart for meal despite their friendship.
According to the story, a washerman owned a donkey, of which he was very fond. One day, however, it ran away, and took up its abode in the forest, where it led a lazy life, and consequently grew very fat.
One day, Soongoo′ra, the hare, by chance passed that way, and saw Poon′da, the donkey.
Now, the hare is the most cunning of all beasts as of the time. if you look at his mouth you will see that he is always talking to himself about everything.
So when Soongoora saw Poonda he said to himself, ‘My, this donkey is fat!’ Then he went and told Sim′ba, the lion.
As Simba was just recovering from a severe illness, he was still so weak that he could not go hunting. He was consequently pretty hungry.
So the hare said, ‘I’ll bring enough meat tomorrow for both of us to have a great feast, but you’ll have to do the killing.
Alright, good friend,’ exclaimed the lion, joyfully; ‘you’re very kind.’
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So the hare scampered off to the forest, found the donkey, and said to her, in his most courtly manner, ‘Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask your hand in marriage.’
“By whom?’ asked the donkey.
“‘By Simba, the lion, replied the hare.
The donkey was greatly elated at this, and exclaimed: ‘Let’s go at once. This is a first-class offer.’
They soon arrived at the lion’s home, and were cordially invited in, and sat down. Soongoora gave Simba a signal with his eyebrow, to the effect that this was the promised feast, and that he would wait outside. Then he said to Poonda: ‘I must leave you for a while to attend to some private business. You stay here and converse with your husband that is to be.’
As soon as Soongoora got outside, the lion sprang at Poonda, and they had a great fight. Simba was kicked very hard, and he struck with his claws as well as his weak health would permit him. At last the donkey threw the lion down, and ran away to her home in the forest.
Shortly after, the hare came back, and called, ‘Haya! Simba! have you got it?’
“‘I have not got it,’ growled the lion; ‘she kicked me and ran away; but I warrant you I made her feel pretty sore, though I’m not strong.’
“‘Oh, well,’ remarked Soongoora; ‘don’t put yourself out of the way about it.’
Then the hare waited many days, until the lion and the donkey were both well and strong, when he said: ‘What do you think now, Simba? Shall I bring you your meat?’
“‘Ay,’ growled the lion, fiercely; ‘bring it to me. I’ll tear it in two pieces!’
So the hare went off to the forest, where the donkey welcomed him and asked the news.
“‘You are invited to call again and see your lover,’ said Soongoora, the hare.
“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Poonda; the donkey, ‘that day you took me to him he scratched me awfully. I’m afraid to go near him now.’
“‘Ah, pshaw!’ said Soongoora; ‘that’s nothing. That’s only Simba’s way of caressing.’
“‘Oh, well,’ said the donkey, ‘let’s go.’
So off they started again; but as soon as the lion caught sight of Poonda he sprang upon her and tore her in two pieces.
When the hare came up, Simba said to him: ‘Take this meat and roast it. As for myself, all I want is the heart and ears.’
“‘Thanks,’ said Soongoora. Then he went away and roasted the meat in a place where the lion could not see him, and he took the heart and ears and hid them. Then he ate all the meat he needed, and put the rest away.
Later, the lion came to him and said, ‘Bring me the heart and ears.’ ‘Where are they?’ said the hare.
“‘What does this mean?’ growled Simba, the lion.
“‘Why, didn’t you know this was a washerman’s donkey?’
“‘Well, what’s that to do with there being no heart or ears?’
“‘For goodness’ sake, Simba, aren’t you old enough to know that if this beast had possessed a heart and ears it wouldn’t have come back the second time?’
“Of course the lion had to admit that what Soongoora, the hare, said was true.
