Over the course of the last 12 months I have been giving a monthly donation to a new charity for me, which is the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros. It was a friend of mine who told me about the amazing work that this charity was doing, and once I learned more I simply had to get involved. What I have found most interesting in the months since I have been going to this charity is that they have provided me with a huge amount of information about donkeys and burros, a lot of which I had no idea about before.
Today then I’m going to share with you the key differences between burros and donkeys, as well as taking a look at how much these creatures weigh, and what they eat, let’s take a look.
Mixing Up The Names
Some people get quite confused when it comes to the difference between a donkey and a burro, which we are going to clear up here. The burro is the Spanish name for donkey, but in the English language we actually use the Spanish word to refer to something which is a little different. A burro is in fact a wild donkey, one which is not local to its surroundings. Sadly many of these animals have been left to roam free by ranchers, and this results in them breeding in strange environments. Technically speaking a burro is in fact a donkey, but the word is used to refer to those which are wild.
What Do They Eat?
Burros typically feed on grass and will also eat a shrub from time to time. What is fascinating about these animals is that they will utilize a massive 95% of all the food which they eat. This is because of the fact that food is often scarce, and so they have to ensure that they are getting the absolute most from what they are chewing on. These animals will eat a massive 2,700kg of food each and every year, as they graze their way through their environment.
How Much Do Burros Actually Weigh?
Amazingly the burro can range greatly in terms of how much they weigh, and this depends on what level of man care they have had. Human care means that the burro is likely to have eaten more in its lifetime than if it had been wild all of its life. These animals can in fact weigh as much as 470kg, and as little as 220kg. The weight ranges based on where they live, in what kind of habitat and as aforementioned, the level of human contact which they have had. The ideal weight for this kind of animal, as an adult, is around the 350kg mark.
If there is anything else that you would like to know about these fascinating creatures, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below this post.
