Hee-Haw

From their big teeth to their stringy tails, little about a donkey looks appetizing to the American palate. In ancient Athens, only the poor would stoop to eating such a thing. At the turn of the 19th century, a Maltese food shortage caused starving residents to consume the protein out of necessity. As it turns out, the people of Malta had the same reaction as me: Donkey is actually pretty good!

Photo Credit: Travel Channel

Here’s the Skin-ny

In traditional Chinese medicine, the donkey’s skin, called ejiao, will supposedly make the consumer’s skin more beautiful. Sliced thin and stir fried, it’s one of the great wok-tossed dishes of the world.

I might eat ejiao more for the flavor than the beauty benefits, but I do take care of my skin. It’s the human body’s largest organ after all! It protects our insides from the outside, keeps us at a regular temperature, and gives us a sense of touch–so I know the difference between a squishy fish eyeball and the soft fur on my pug Pretzel’s back.

How do I take care of my skin? First, I keep it clean. My sure to wash any bad germs and dirt off with a washcloth (or loofa, if you prefer) to keep your skin clean and healthy. Second, I protect my skin from the sun. Sunburn is no fun and it can damage your skin. That’s why I always wear sunblock when I go outside and make sure I cover my head with my favorite baseball hat.

Illustration by Chuck Gonzales

Jack Facts

• Donkeys are part of the Equidae family, which includes horses and zebras. Since they are closely related species, they are still able to reproduce. This means a male donkey and a female horse can have a baby. The offspring of this pairing is called a mule. If the donkey is the baby mama and the horse is the father, they produce a hinny.
• Male donkeys are called jacks, and female donkeys are called jennies.
• Because donkeys live so far from one another, they have developed a way to communicate. Donkeys make a sound called a bray, which can be heard up to three kilometers away! When a donkey has something to say, it will make a load “hee-haw” noise for about 20 seconds.
• Donkeys make great pets. They are kind, loving and loyal. Plus, they have great smiles.