Tibetan wild donkey: I can run and dig, I am the “water-seeking expert” on the plateau!

(This issue’s pictures are from Photo Network)

On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there is a species of wild donkey that can be more than 2 meters long, about 140 centimeters tall at the shoulder, and can weigh up to 400 kilograms. They are the Tibetan wild donkey, also known as the Tibetan wild donkey. They are a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are also China's first-class key protected wild animal.

The Tibetan wild donkey has a short head, long ears and strong limbs. It is the largest wild donkey. It lives in plateaus, alpine desert grasslands and mountain deserts at an altitude of 4,200 to 5,100 meters. They like to eat thatch, moss and wormwood.

Tibetan wild donkeys have the habit of moving in groups. Generally, each group consists of 5-8 or 20-30 people, and sometimes they form a large group of 100 or 200 people. Tibetan wild donkeys have sharp hearing, smell and vision, and can detect threats from 500 to 600 meters away. Once they find danger, they will run away immediately, and sometimes even race with cars, showing their bravery and curiosity. They can run at a speed of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour, making them one of the best running animals on the plateau.

Tibetan wild donkeys are good at finding water sources. When drought comes, they can accurately find the location with higher groundwater level. After determining the water level, they start to dig wells with their hooves. The half-meter-deep water pits formed are called "donkey wells" by local herdsmen. The breeding season of Tibetan wild donkeys is from July to December every year. Female donkeys give birth to one calf each time, and their life span is generally about 20 years. Female, male and young donkeys live together all year round. When Tibetan wild donkeys run, the male donkey leads the way in front, the female donkey covers behind, and the young donkey is protected in the middle of the team.

Due to overgrazing, habitat destruction, illegal hunting and other phenomena, their population has been declining and has been listed in the Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union. The Tibetan wild donkey is one of the key species on the plateau. It conquers the harsh environment with its speed and strength, showing the tenacity and beauty of life. Let us pay attention to and protect these "wild horses" on the plateau and let them run freely on the plateau!