Poor Man’s Horse: The Mexican Burro
Tara A. Spears
Recent rodeos and town parades have showcased the local horsemen on high stepping stallions- but wait, what’s that short one? Aye, the burro! Such big, intelligent eyes! Look at those ears! The Mexican burro is often made fun of but it is deeply woven into rural Mexican life. 
According to National Geographic, in 1531 the Spanish Viceroy in Mexico ordered, “Take three hundred donkeys to distribute among the Indians as well as some sheep.” In essence, it was an impulse decision that introduced a more productive rural way of life. This is how the breeding of mule/burro cattle began to be established in continental America. Later, the donkeys multiplied so much that they were seen wandering in the mountains in wild herds.
Donkeys were first brought to Mexico by Spanish conquistadors. They flourished and became a symbol of rural life known for their ability to carry large loads over Mexico’s difficult terrain, but there is a dark side to this donkey tale. Donkeys are disappearing in some parts of this country.
Donkeys are the equine species that is best adapted to live in the desert; His big ears, which for a long time have been a symbol of ignorance in schools around the world, actually allow him to detect imperceptible to humans audio frequencies and dissipate his body heat.
Another one of the most developed senses of these equine is their sense of smell. Their nose allows them to detect smells 10 kilometers away. Another plus for the harsh conditions of Mexico, the burro’s digestive system is more resistant than horses, allowing them to consume a wider variety of plants and extract water more efficiently from their food.
The burros are used as pack animals due to their strength. Their bone structure gives them a drag capacity of up to four times their own weight. Depending on their age, burros can tow up to 2 tons of weight. The burro has a distinctive appearance, its head has a wide forehead topped protruding ears of large proportion to its size. This hardy, compact animal has wide knees and a very calm character. The burro is prized for its great energy and endurance especially its ability to acclimate to heat and water shortage which is typical throughout much of Mexico.
Although the burro is one of Mexico’s most enduring symbols, all is not well for the hardworking equine. According to a report from the Research and Development site, in 1991 the population of donkeys in Mexico was 1.5 million. By the 2000s the burro had virtually disappeared from the wild with fewer than half a million animals remaining. Some of the causes that could lead this noble species to extinction are the modernization of agricultural work, exploitation of the species, and disinterest in burro conservation.
For centuries the burro was an important part of Mexican rural life. By the early 2000s the burro had virtually disappeared from the wild. The director of the Jalisco Office of Rural Development, Francisco Lugo Serrano, came up with a plan to repopulate with quality stock. He imported 11 donkeys from the USA to reintroduce strong genetic qualities.
Hopefully this renewed interest in the lowly Mexican burro will help it survive in the wild. Respecting the burro’s long relationship with rural Mexico’s indigenous people remains an important tradition.
