Sardinian donkey mare and foal, France (© Klein & Hubert/Nature Picture Library)
More than a hee-haw
World Donkey Day celebrates one of humanity's most quietly capable partners. Donkeys have worked alongside people for thousands of years, prized for their endurance, sharp memory, and sure-footed confidence on rugged ground. Often mistaken for stubborn, they are actually careful thinkers—pausing to assess risk rather than rushing into trouble.