Please note: The Pizza Playground at Kids' Farm is closed and will open again later this summer, for the construction of a new pizza. The new Pizza Playground will reopen at the "Pizza Party" on June 29, 2013.
Donkeys were first domesticated for transportation and field work in Egypt about 6,000 years ago.
Who's who
Male: Jack Female: Jennet Young male or female: Foal
All in the family
Even though they are different species, donkeys can breed with horses and zebras. However, their offspring are infertile or sterile, so they cannot reproduce.
The offspring of a female horse (mare) and male donkey (jack) is called a mule.
The offspring of a male horse (stallion) and female donkey (jennet) is called a hinny.
The offspring of donkeys and zebras is known by many names:
zebroid, zebrass, zonkey, zenkey, zedonk, zebrinny, and zebret.
Wild cousins
Donkeys are equines, the family of animals that includes horses, ponies, and zebras. At the National Zoo, you can see Grevy's zebras.