African Origins of the Domestic Donkey

History

The history and origins of the donkey are
particularly interesting because, together
with the horse, the donkey (Equus asinus)
has been used for the transportation of people, possessions, and produce in many cultures. This domestication marks a major cultural shift away from sedentary, agrarian life-styles toward more extensive movement and trade. Sparse archaeological
evidence from Egypt suggests that donkeys, like horses, were domesticated

5000 years ago. Exactly where this occurred is still unclear (1, 2).
We assessed domestic donkey origins by
sampling donkeys from 52 countries across
the Old World and sequencing 479
base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial DNA
(mtDNA) control region (3). Phylogenetic
analyses identified two highly divergent
phylogenetic groups with an average corrected sequence divergence of 15.73 0.61
substitutions. Sequences from the same
mtDNA control region from both Asian wild half-asses (E. hemiones and E. kiang) and the
two extant wild African ass subspecies (E.africanus africanus,the Nubian wild ass, and E. a. somaliensis,
the Somali wild ass)clearly exclude the
Asiatic half-asses as progenitors of domestic donkeys.
The African wild asses are therefore the likely
progenitors. A parametric bootstrap test (3) strongly
rejected monophyly of domestic donkeys, supporting multiple domestications. Molecular clock analysis
of complete cytochrome b sequences
(1140 bp) revealed a relatively ancient divergence (0.303 to 0.910 million years ago)
between the lineages that lead to the two
domestic donkey clades, vastly predating the
well-established archaeological dates of
the earliest known livestock domestications (
10,000 years ago). Our data suggest two separate maternal origins of the domestic donkey from two distinct wild
populations. Analysis of African wild ass samples
from the two extant putative wild progenitors revealed five distinct mtDNA sequences. The average sequence divergence
between the two wild subspecies (3.41
0.01%) is similar to that between the two
domestic mtDNA lineages (3.29 0.01%).
The two haplotypes found in the Nubian
wild ass cluster within the domestic Nubian.

Somali clade but not obviously within it.
The geographic distribution of the wild
progenitors (3) and the finding of significantly higher (P 0.01) nucleotide diversity in both domestic donkey lineages in Northeast Africa suggest this is
the most probable location of donkey domestication. However, we cannot exclude
with complete certainty a domestication of
the Somali domestic group elsewhere.
If both lineages arose in Africa, it suggests that the donkey is the only ungulate
domesticated solely in Africa. Moreover,
this study demonstrates that the practice of
animal domestication, which first emerged
in the Near East, reappeared in Northeastern Africa. It provides insight into the role
that this region may have played in population expansion and trade across the Old
World. Domestication of the donkey may
have been driven by the response of pastoralists and other societies in Northeastern
Africa to the desertification of the Sahara
(
5000 to 7000 years ago) (4). Finally, it
provides clues for directing future archaeological studies that look for evidence of
the initial domestication of donkeys.

🐴 Some Fun Facts African Origins of the Domestic Donkey

1. Domestication Began in Africa
   Donkeys were first domesticated over 5,000 years ago in northeastern Africa, particularly in regions like Egypt and Nubia.
2. Wild Ancestor: African Wild Ass
   The domestic donkey descends from the African wild ass (Equus africanus), still found in parts of the Horn of Africa.
3. Two Main Lineages
   Genetic studies show domestic donkeys have two major African lineages — possibly from separate domestication events.
4. Caravan Companions
   Early African traders used donkeys to transport goods across deserts and rough terrain long before camels became common.
5. Masters of Dry Climates
   Donkeys adapted well to dry, arid environments, making them essential in ancient African trade routes like the Sahara.
6. First “Beasts of Burden”
   Donkeys were among the first animals used by humans for carrying loads — a major leap in transport technology.
7. Important to Ancient Egypt
   Donkeys were vital to Egypt’s economy, used in agriculture, mining, and long-distance trade.
8. Donkeys in Rock Art
   Ancient African rock art shows depictions of donkeys, proving their early use in human society.
9. Silent But Smart
   Unlike horses, donkeys are more cautious and intelligent, which helped early African pastoralists in managing them.
10. Spread Through Africa and Beyond
    From Africa, donkeys spread into the Middle East, Asia, and Europe via trade routes and conquests.
11. Symbol of Status
    In some African societies, owning donkeys signaled wealth and status, particularly among nomadic groups.
12. Adapted Hooves
    Their hooves are suited for rough, rocky African terrain — more so than horses or oxen.
13. Survival Champions
    African donkeys can survive with minimal water and forage, traits inherited from their wild ancestors.
14. Donkey Milk in Africa
    Donkey milk has long been used in parts of Africa for nutrition and skincare — even Cleopatra reportedly bathed in it.
15. Resilient Workers
    Donkeys in Africa still perform vital roles in farming and transport in rural communities.
16. Domestication Evidence in DNA
    Genetic analysis shows a clear African origin, separate from Asian or European equids.
17. African Languages Have Unique Donkey Terms
    Many African languages have specific, ancient words for donkeys, showing their cultural integration.
18. Distinct Braying Sounds
    The domestic donkey inherited its loud bray from the wild ass — useful for communication across African landscapes.
19. Guard Animals
    African farmers sometimes use donkeys to guard livestock, as they’re surprisingly aggressive toward predators like dogs.
20. UNESCO Recognition
    Some African breeds of donkeys are now being studied and preserved due to their unique genetics and heritage.