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Donkey can reach 31 to 63 inches in height and 180 to 1.060 pounds of weight.
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Donkey can have short or long, shaggy coat that can be black, gray, white or brown colored.
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Donkey has big head with large ears, short, stiff mane on the neck, small feet with sharp hooves and cow-like tail. Its large ears are used to eliminate excess heat from the body and to facilitate detection of sounds in desert (wild donkeys can detect each other from a distance of 60 miles).
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Donkey is a herbivore. Its diet is based on grass and grains. Unlike many other animals, donkey can extract moisture from very tough, dry plants.
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Donkey has excellent memory and ability to recognize other donkeys, people and areas even after 25 years.
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Donkey is often marked as stubborn, but it actually has very strongly instinct for self-preservation. In the case it detects danger, donkey refuses to move further.
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Donkey is often used to guard flocks of sheep and goats and to herd cattle because of its intelligence and ability to analyze and act according to the situation.
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Donkey doesn't like coyotes, wolves and domestic dogs. It doesn't hesitate to use its teeth and hind legs to protect itself against predators.
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Donkey doesn't like to be alone. It likes to spend time with other donkeys or some other type of animals.
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Donkey is docile, affectionate and playful, which is why it is popular as pet in the USA.
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Male donkey is called jack and female - jenny. Donkey and horse can successfully interbreed and produce: mule (jack + mare) and hinny (jenny + stallion). Mules and hinnies are sterile, but they are stronger and larger than donkey (hence, better "workers").
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Wild donkeys produce loud braying noise to keep in touch with each other.
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Pregnancy in donkey lasts around 11 months and ends with single baby (foal).
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Donkey's milk contains more sugar and proteins and less fat than cow's milk. It was used in treatment of premature babies, sick children and people diagnosed with tuberculosis in the past.
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Donkey can survive 40 to 50 years (under optimal conditions), but it usually lives much shorter (12 to 15 years due to extreme exploitation).
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