Posted on August 10, 2010

Genetic analysis proves that the African wild ass, which may be down to the last few hundred individuals, is the ancestor of modern donkeys. The same study by an international group of researchers suggests that a subspecies, the Nubian wild ass, thought to have vanished, might have survived after all.

NGS stock photo of modern donkey by Jodi Cobb

The critically endangered African wild ass–which today exists only in small numbers in eastern Africa, zoos, and wildlife preserves–is the living ancestor of the modern donkey, according to the University of Florida (UF).

Donkeys were domesticated by mobile, pastoral people who had to recruit animals to help them survive the harsh Saharan landscape in northern Africa more than 5,000 years ago, say scientists who published their findings this week in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The discovery by an international research team paints “a surprising picture of what small, isolated groups of people were able to accomplish when confronted with unpredictable storms and expanding desert,” UF says in a news release about the study.

“It says those early people were quite innovative, more so than many people today give them credit for,” says Connie Mulligan, UF associate professor of anthropology.

“Domestication happened first in northern Africa and happened there more than once.”

“The domestication of a wild animal was quite an intellectual breakthrough, and we have provided solid evidence that donkey domestication happened first in northern Africa and happened there more than once.”

Read more:  http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/08/african-wild-ass-is-ancestor-of-modern-donkeys.html

To help the NEDDI rescued donkeys, why not ADOPT A DONKEY?