Population estimates
Total number of donkeys (Equus asinus) estimated worldwide: 44 million and increasing (Starkey & Starkey 1997)
Total number of mules (a donkey/horse hybrid) worldwide estimated at 15 million (Starkey & Starkey 1997)
Conservation History
1598: Spanish explorer Juan de Onate brought horses and probably donkeys to U.S. Southwest. (Grinder et al 2006)
1599: First wild donkeys recorded in U.S. (Grinder et al 2006)
Late 1800's: Donkeys imported to Western Australia for transportation and labor before railroads established.
Total number of observed African Wild Asses (Equus africanus) in Ethiopia and Eritrea is 70. A rough estimate of a total population is 600. (IUCN Red List 2008)
1986: 57 African Wild Asses in managed card
1999: 94 African Wild Asses in managed care
1971: Feral donkeys in U.S. subject to Wild, Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 (Grinder et al 2006)
IUCN Status
CITES Status
(Equus africanus) (Moehlman et al. 2015, IUCN Red List 16-2)
IUCN Red List (2008)
Grinder et al (2006)
Groves (2002)
Starkey & Starkey (1997)