These so-called “beasts of burden” have been used to carry heavy loads, guard livestock, manage land through grazing, and perform countless other tasks.

But donkeys are far more than the roles and stereotypes assigned to them by humans. Like pigs, chickens, cows, and other farm animals, donkeys are individuals with distinct personalities, rich inner lives, and the capacity to form deep, meaningful relationships.

These 10 facts reveal just how fascinating—and deserving of compassion—donkeys truly are.

Male donkeys and burros (wild donkeys) are known as jacks, and females are called jennies. Move over, Jack and Diane—we want to hear a little ditty about Jack and Jenny!

While many equids—including horses and zebras—flee when startled, donkeys tend to freeze in the face of a challenge or potential danger. This behavior might explain why donkeys have a reputation for being stubborn, but they’re actually pausing to take in more information about what’s going on. We find that to be wise and vigilant, not stubborn!

Donkeys prefer to go where the wind takes them rather than adhere to someone else’s plan. Male burros often venture off on their own, away from other burros.

Females are more likely to stick together with other burros and their foals. Farm Sanctuary resident Hope consistently chooses companionship over solitude. Ever the extrovert, she enjoys the company of other donkeys, her human caregivers, and sanctuary visitors—anyone who will pet or snuggle her.

Donkeys have hardy digestive systems that can efficiently break down roughage. In their native arid climates, they spend more than half the day foraging and feeding on desert vegetation, bushes, tree bark, weeds, and woody plants. In fact, when not hindered by human interference, donkeys spend an average of six to seven hours a day foraging and can spend up to 16 hours doing so.

Adult burros usually take just one drink per day. They spend about five minutes taking in all the water they need for the day. Consequently, burros also urinate infrequently—as little as once a day.

Like dogs, donkeys use scent to communicate. Similar to dogs who leave their mark with urine, donkeys deposit dung throughout the day to mark their territory and leave “messages” for others in their social group.

Donkeys can detect odors from more than six miles away. In their native desert climates, which are dry and expansive, this highly developed sense of smell helps donkeys to find food and water.

Like horses, donkeys spend time standing both while alert and while resting. This ability is thanks to the animals’ “stay apparatus,” an arrangement of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to enable standing with almost no muscular effort. Standing rest enables donkeys to flee from predators quickly if needed.

Donkeys often pair up and develop close friendships, choosing whom to spend their time with. Their friendship bonds are so strong that donkeys become distressed and often stop eating when separated from their pals. (Burros, on the other hand, don’t seem to engage in this same pair-bonding behavior. The reason is still unknown.)

In 1971, Congress tasked the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with protecting and managing the vulnerable burros and horses who populated and now roam public lands after decades of exploitation. Sadly, the BLM’s methods for removing burros from these lands often cause more harm than good. Roundups are stressful and can separate donkeys from their family members. Many burros are confined to holding pens while awaiting adoption, while others are sent to slaughterhouses in other countries.

The system is not without its issues, but rescue has led to some happy stories for donkeys like Dorado. Born in a BLM facility, his future was uncertain. Thanks to our partnership with the Platero Project, Farm Sanctuary was able to provide refuge not only to Dorado, but also to his friend Platero, and their moms, burros Patsy and Dolly.