Feral Desert Donkeys Are Digging Wells, Giving Water To Parched Wildlife
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Published 6 days ago:
May 10, 2021 at 1:00 pm
In the heart of the world’s deserts – some of the most expansive wild places left on Earth – roam herds of feral donkeys and horses. These are the descendants of a once-essential but now-obsolete labour force.
These wild animals are generally considered a threat to the natural environment, and have been the target of mass eradication and lethal control programs in Australia. However, as we show in a new research paper in Science, these animals do something amazing that has long been overlooked: they dig wells or “ass holes”.
Donkeys dig wells that provide support to other animals
By: Scripps National
and last updated 2021-05-06 18:54:56-04
Youâve probably heard of goats mowing lawns. Now, a new study is looking at how wild donkeys and horses can help dig water wells.
Researchers spent three years in the Arizona desert, studying how their digging habits impacted the ecosystem.
âThis behavior appears to have this capacity to sustain water availability through the hottest and driest parts of the year and every species is responding to that,â said Erick Lundgren, lead researcher at Aarhus University.
Lundgren says everything from birds to amphibians were seen drinking water from the donkey wells.
Donkeys dig wells that provide support to other animals
By: Scripps National
and last updated 2021-05-06 17:58:24-04
Youâve probably heard of goats mowing lawns. Now, a new study is looking at how wild donkeys and horses can help dig water wells.
Researchers spent three years in the Arizona desert, studying how their digging habits impacted the ecosystem.
âThis behavior appears to have this capacity to sustain water availability through the hottest and driest parts of the year and every species is responding to that,â said Erick Lundgren, lead researcher at Aarhus University.
Lundgren says everything from birds to amphibians were seen drinking water from the donkey wells.
Feral horses, donkeys dig desert holes to hydrate biodiversity
Nathan Howes
Wednesday, May 5th 2021, 10:06 pm - The wild donkeys and horses, hazards to local biodiversity, can actually boost desert ecosystems by digging equid wells and providing much-needed water.
When it comes to finding water and staying hydrated in desert environments, animals will take all the help they can get. This includes from other wildlife, even ones that pose threats to natural ecosystems.
Researchers have found that feral donkeys and horses have been digging equid wells in search of water, not only for themselves, but for other species, too. The findings of the study were recently published in
Feral horses, donkeys dig desert holes to hydrate biodiversity
When it comes to finding water and staying hydrated in desert environments, animals will take all the help they can get. This includes from other wildlife, even ones that pose threats to natural ecosystems.
Researchers have found that feral donkeys and horses have been digging equid wells in search of water, not only for themselves, but for other species, too. The findings of the study were recently published in
The study found that equid-dug wells increased water availability and were used by more than 57 other species, including many birds, other herbivores such as mule deer and mountain lions. As well, the abandoned holes decreased distance between water sources and increased germination in critical riparian tree species.