Today is World Donkey Day, a special time to show respect for one of the most enduring and hard working animals in the Equidae family. Throughout history the humble donkey has served across the world as a mount and a beast of burden in some of the most challenging terrains and forbidding climates. In doing so with pride and endurance.

It’s unsurprising that success is due in part to their stubborn nature, and World Donkey Day honours them for this along with their other, perhaps more laudable traits of loyalty, intelligence and steadfastness.

Available evidence suggests donkeys having been working alongside humanity since 4000 BCE, most likely in Nubia, as a more versatile and resilient pack animal than the ox. Since then they have been bred and transplanted all over the globe as cultures moved and the world expanded. Donkeys can now be found just about everywhere.

Without their help, progress to the modern world would have been a great deal slower. These hardy pack animals provided civilization with the mobility needed to generate wealth, well before the advent of steam power or electricity.

World Donkey Day is all about celebrating their stoic spirit and individual charm. These creatures aren’t afraid of a hard day’s work. In fact, they more or less invented the concept. Donkeys pull carts, operate mills, and carry cargo for miles and miles, well after other species would have given up. Their role in conflicts over centuries has earned our gratitude and a special place in our hearts.

World Donkey Day is the brainchild of Raziq Ark, a scientist whose interests primarily concern desert animals. Around ten years ago, he noticed that nobody was celebrating the humble donkey for its efforts in helping people all over the world improve their quality of life.

In recognition of all this hard work, he set up a Facebook group, chronicling the trials and tribulations of the species all over the world. Eventually, the idea to set up a World Donkey Day emerged in 2018, and has been celebrated ever since.

Donkeys have played an essential part in human history. Ark says that they are a “precious genetic resource and a great gift of nature.” You can’t get higher praise than that!

Our friends at the Donkey Breed Society tell us there are plenty of ways that you can show your support to donkeys all over the world and improve their wellbeing. Many of them are in constant pain and need attention fast. Often their owners are too poor to pay for a vet, so donating to a registered and reputable donkey charity is a great way to show your support for these fabulous creatures.

Currently, there are a handful of nonprofits working hard all over the world to deliver medical attention to neglected and abused animals. These charities use donated money to provide much-needed treatment to donkeys in their hour of need.

Donkey abandonment is another major issue. Many owners will dump their donkeys at the side of the road if they can no longer afford to take care of them. The animal must then scavenge for food to survive. Giving to a donkey charity can provide these victims with shelter where they can live in safety and peace.

Donkeys are beautiful, but often neglected creatures. World Donkey Day is a chance for everyone who cares about these animals to highlight their plight and do something practical about it. And if you are lucky enough to own a donkey then Rosemary Clarke, Chair of the Donkey Breed Society, says give yours a special cuddle on this important day.