Miniature Donkey
Basic Information:
Scientific Name: Equus asinus
Habitat: Miniature donkeys, also known as miniature Mediterranean donkeys, are native to the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Sicily. They are a separate breed of donkey that originated in the northern African Mediterranean area.
Diet: Miniature donkeys need a diet of good quality hay, fresh water, and other forage. Their primary food is grass, but they also like to eat shrubs, desert plants, berries, and fallen fruit. Donkeys are natural browsers, so they should have access to trees and hedgerows to browse on leaves and branches.
Size: 33–34 inches tall
Weight: 250–300 pounds
Lifespan: 25-35 years
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Least Concern – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to be pervasive, abundant, and thriving.
Our Miniature Donkeys:
Hazel (Female) – January 2012
Nutmeg ( Female) – September 30, 2023
Picabo ( Female) – January 13, 2025
About Miniature Donkeys:
Miniature donkeys are native to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia and were first imported to the United States in 1929.
Did You Know?!
- Miniature donkeys can serve as pack animals but are more often kept as companion animals.
- Because of their size and disposition, they are more easily handled than other breeds of donkey. They are known to be gentle, intelligent, and sociable.
- Miniature donkeys are usually gray with a darker cross on their backs, but can also be brown, black, white, spotted, chestnut, skewbald, or cream.
