Ponui donkey
The Ponui donkey or Ponui Island Donkey is a breed and feral population of domestic donkey from Ponui Island, in the Hauraki Gulf off New Zealand. It is the only feral donkey in New Zealand.
Conservation status | rare[1] |
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Other names | Ponui Island donkey |
Country of origin | New Zealand |
Distribution | New Zealand |
Traits | |
Height | |
Coat | light dun or chocolate, with darker dorsal stripe |
Classification | |
Donkey & Mule Society of New Zealand | Breed description |
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History
Frederick Chamberlin bought Ponui Island from the New Zealand government in 1854.[3] Donkeys were brought to the island together with other livestock from New South Wales, and a feral population established itself. The Ponui Island Donkey now has formal breed status,[4] and some are distributed in mainland New Zealand.[1] It is registered by the Donkey & Mule Society of New Zealand. The Ponui donkey is listed as "rare" by the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand.[1]
Characteristics
The Ponui donkey is docile and sturdy. It stands about 1 metre at the withers. It is usually light dun in colour, but may be chocolate; broken-coloured donkeys cannot be registered.[2]
See also
References
- Ponui Donkeys: A Rare Breed of New Zealand Origin. Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand. Accessed July 2014.
- Rules for the Ponui Island Donkey register Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Donkey & Mule Society of New Zealand. Accessed July 2014.
- Chamberlin, Frederick, b. 1826: An account of my proceedings since my arrival in New Zealand in 1853, with a diary (catalogue entry). Auckland War Memorial Museum Library – Te Pataka Matapuna. Accessed July 2014.
- Heaven: a jack and several jennys, catalogue entry for: Alex Stone (2013). Heaven: a jack and several jennys. Gulf News, 21 March 2013. p. 18. Library of New Zealand – Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa. Accessed July 2014.