Feral Donkeys

Donkeys were first introduced to Australia in 1866, initially used as pack and draught animals. However, with the advent of motorized transport in the early 1900s, donkeys were released, and large feral populations began to establish. By the 1920s and 1930s, these populations had grown substantially, and by 1949, donkeys were officially declared pests in Western Australia.

Feral donkeys are highly adapted to arid regions, with large populations found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and the Victoria River area of the Northern Territory. While difficult to estimate, the feral donkey population in Australia is thought to range between 2 and 5 million.

These donkeys are both grazers and browsers, feeding on a variety of plants and capable of surviving on coarser vegetation than horses. They form large mobs of up to 500 animals around water sources during dry seasons, while in wet seasons, they disperse into smaller groups. Feral donkeys breed seasonally, with births occurring between September and February. Females reach maturity by their second year and can produce one foal annually.

Population growth can be rapid, reaching 25% annually under favorable conditions, but competition for food leads to juvenile mortality rates exceeding 60% in early life, stabilizing the population when resources become limited.