According to the 2006 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled "The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture", there were 185 species of Donkeys. Heightened awareness and research funding has shown an increase in breed diversity since 1995 when only 77 breeds were recorded. However while the global number of documented breeds are on the rise, the total number of donkeys are on the decline. According to the current Domestic Animal Diversity Information System hosted by FAO (DAD-IS), there are 194 breeds world wide but more breeds are entering the critically endangered list.
|