By The European Times | Created at 2026-10-02 08:42:05 | Updated at 2026-10-02 09:18:02
1 hour ago
In 1982, 28 wild donkeys were released into the desert. Decades later, they have created an oasis in one of the most extreme places on Earth.
Donkeys are far more than mere beasts of burden; these herbivorous mammals can benefit the environment in ways that would be difficult to achieve through human intervention.
More than four decades ago, Israeli authorities released 28 wild donkeys into the Ramon Crater—an extremely arid area in the Negev Desert. The animals’ daily habits gradually transformed the landscape, helping to bring life back to the region.
Wild donkeys once inhabited this desert, but intensive hunting in the early 20th century led to their disappearance from the area. The Israeli authorities’ initial goal was relatively simple: to reintroduce a lost species to its historical habitat as part of conservation efforts.
However, the released animals were not ordinary domestic donkeys, but Persian onagers (Persian wild donkeys) and African wild donkeys—two species on the brink of extinction. Their arrival in Israel was the result of international diplomacy and a rescue operation carried out against the backdrop of revolutionary events. From Iran and Ethiopia to the Negev Desert
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Israel and Iran maintained good diplomatic relations. General Avraham Yoffe, director of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, secretly negotiated with the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to transfer Persian onagers from his royal reserves.
In 1968, Iran gifted 11 onagers to Israel; they were airlifted to the Yotvata Nature Reserve, where a captive breeding program was established.
During the 1970s, Israel expanded the project’s genetic diversity by purchasing a small herd of African wild asses from Ethiopia. The animals were transported via specially equipped ships and trucks to reserves in the southern part of the country.
After more than a decade of controlled breeding at Yotvata, scientists determined that the group was large and healthy enough for release. In 1982, Ramon Canyon was selected as the site for reintroducing the wild asses to their natural habitat.
Today, the wild ass population in the desert numbers between 500 and 600 animals across the region. Over the years, their most significant contribution to the ecosystem has become evident during periods of severe drought. Built for life in extreme conditions
Their short coats—lacking the characteristic dark cross-shaped stripe across the shoulders—help them blend in with desert rocks. Their bodies are slender and athletic, and their long legs resemble those of a small horse. They can reach speeds of 60 to 70 km/h when fleeing predators.
Their exceptionally hard hooves are adapted for traversing rocky terrain without wearing down quickly; the animals use them to dig for water in the parched earth.
Their metabolism allows them to withstand temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and go several days without water. They can lose up to 30% of their body weight through dehydration without fatal consequences.
Driven by the need to find water, these mammals dig through the sand with their hooves until they reach underground sources, creating holes up to two meters deep.
These small wells become a vital water source for other local wildlife as well—including foxes, gazelles, and even bats—enabling them to quench their thirst and survive long periods without rainfall.
The animals also help spread acacia trees.
The role of these wild donkeys extends beyond just finding water. They travel for hours across the desert in search of food, feeding on various plants—particularly acacia pods.
The animals ingest the seeds and subsequently disperse them over long distances through their droppings. A key goal of ecological restoration is the preservation of acacia trees, which play a vital role in the desert ecosystem by fixing nitrogen and providing shade and food for dozens of species.
Without the donkeys, the seeds struggle to germinate on their own. However, when the animals eat the pods, gastric juices soften the seeds’ outer shells without damaging them. Once excreted in moist dung, the seeds can germinate much more easily.
Thus, unknowingly, wild donkeys facilitate natural seeding and the growth of new trees, contributing to the restoration of green areas in the region.
Their tracks help retain rainwater.
Even the animals’ movement across the desert impacts the environment. Repeatedly traversing the same paths creates small depressions and ridges in the sand that trap water during rare storms.
Thanks to this subtle activity, a harsh, extreme environment gradually transforms into an ecosystem capable of giving a second chance to dozens of animal and plant species. At the same time, Israeli scientists take two further steps that, according to the text, are crucial to the recovery effort.
Instead of pursuing a genetic purity that could jeopardize the project, Israel crossbreeds the Iranian onager with the Ethiopian wild ass. The resulting hybrids exhibit greater disease resistance and better adaptability to the desert’s climatic fluctuations.
In addition, terraces and earthen embankments—inspired by Nabataean techniques—have been constructed. Their purpose is to capture sudden winter torrents and help maintain higher groundwater levels.
Thanks to the combination of these factors, the Ramon Crater and the Negev Desert have been transformed from areas described as being on the brink of ecological collapse into a global model of ecosystem resilience.
Illustrative photo: pexels-stillzonwheelz-36461674
