On Monday, December 18, a sanctuary in Spain shared a video that is giving one of the most misunderstood animals some great PR. In the clip, they shared a few fun facts about donkeys that are turning heads and capturing hearts.
Not only are all of these fun facts total news to us, but they’re proving that donkeys are incredible friends and so easy to love. Even the most stoic person will find themselves swooning over these animals!
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Awwww, donkeys are just incredible! According to this donkey sanctuary in southern Spain, donkeys are physical marvels with an impressive range of vision and a longer-than-expected lifespan. However, what makes them truly lovable is their emotional intelligence.
Related: Donkeys and Pigs Enjoying a Snuggle in the Hay Are So Full of Sweetness
Donkeys are social animals who often bond with other equines for life. In herds, donkeys can be found in pairs, but these bonds can also be formed with other farm animals like horses and goats. When separated from their mate, donkeys will get very stressed. This emotional response goes hand-in-hand with a donkey’s ability to cry from sadness or pain, proving they are a compassionate and empathetic species.
The Misuse and Misunderstanding of Donkeys
This video makes it clear that donkeys are loving animals and wonderful companions. However, in many countries, they are viewed merely as working animals, which has lead to mistreatment of these kindhearted creatures.
On farms, donkeys could be asked to undertake any number of roles. This is not inherently negative, but when working donkeys are forced to do more than they can handle or aren’t given adequate care, donkeys feel this poor treatment deeply on a physical and emotional level.
Alternatively, donkeys simply need to have their needs and limitations taken into more consideration when farmers are doling out work for them. These animals can make surprisingly adept protectors for horses and other livestock, carving out a few different ways that donkeys can be ethically used in farm work.
Additionally, many tourist destinations use donkeys to attract visitors. Using animals for tourism is already a questionable practice at best, and donkeys are no exception. These animals are often used to give tourists rides, especially in areas that are steep climbs or have challenging terrain, and many of the groups who facilitate these excursions provide little care to overworked donkeys.
Instead of attracting visitors to your business by offering to exploit donkeys in a tourist destination, animal sanctuaries like Donkey Dreamland are a gentle way to draw in visitors while providing the utmost compassion for the animals under your care. People who are real animal lovers are always looking for ways to interact with nature in a humane way, and a sanctuary that offers exciting visitor experiences is sure to draw a crowd!
Donkeys have gotten a bad reputation due to their use in framework and tourism by the working class, but the truth is that anyone would be lucky to have a donkey companion by their side!
