Donkey's Years Began in Africa

The humble donkey was first domesticated in north-eastern Africa at least 5,000 years ago. European scientists report in the US journal Science today that a study of donkey DNA shows all members of the modern Equus asinus probably descended from two African wild asses in Nubia or Somalia.

This would make the seaside donkey the only working animal to have first been tamed and set to work in Africa. The researchers sampled mitochondrial DNA - inherited only through the female line - from modern domestic donkeys in 52 countries. By comparing the data with samples from wild asses, they were able to rule out an Asian origin.

"This domestication marks a major cultural shift away from sedentary, agrarian lifestyles toward more extensive movement and trade," the scientists say.