Between 500 and 600 wild donkeys now inhabit the Negev desert mountains in Israel following a 44-year conservation program. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority considers the project a success for conservation.
The original wild donkey of the Negev desert went extinct during the 1960s, prompting Israel to start a recovery effort using specimens of a subspecies from Iran. In 1982, officials released the first 28 individuals in the Ein Saharonim area inside the Ramon crater, with further additions between 1992 and 2005 strengthening the population's genetic diversity.
Ecosystem recovery in southern Israel
Argentine newspaper Uno reported that the environmental plan initially sought to restore ecological balance in the southern Israel desert. Researchers verified that wild donkey behavior boosted vegetation recovery, conserved soil moisture, and aided the survival of other species without constant human intervention.
Scientists discovered that as the donkeys walk and dig into compacted soil searching for water, they create small pits that retain moisture and encourage new plant germination, according to Uno. The animals feed on hardy shrubs and desert thorny plants, depositing seeds wrapped in nutrient-rich manure when defecating. The outlet explained that this manure protects seeds from extreme heat and insects, increasing germination chances during scarce rains.
During dry periods, the portal added that the animals use their feet to dig wells in dry riverbeds to reach underground water. These pits allow the donkeys to drink while creating temporary oases that birds, foxes, lizards, and other desert mammals rely on to survive.
