Thüringer Waldesel
{{Short description|Type of donkey}}
{{ infobox donkey
| name = Thuringian Forest Donkey
| image = 2010 Thüringer Waldesel Hundshaupten.JPG
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| status = DAD-IS (2021): critical{{r|dad}}
| altname = {{ubl|Thuringian Forest Donkey|{{lang|de|italic=no|Mülleresel}}{{r|cabi|page=48}}|{{lang|de|italic=no|Steinesel}}{{r|cabi|page=48}}|{{lang|de|italic=no|{{nowrap|Mitteldeutscher Steinesel}}{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}}}}}
| country = Germany
| distribution =
| standard =
| use =
| weight =
| maleweight = 133–210 kg{{r|mon|page=30}}
| femaleweight = 156–185 kg{{r|mon|page=30}}
| height =
| maleheight = 100–110 cm{{r|mon|page=30}}
| femaleheight = 95–110 cm{{r|mon|page=30}}
| coat = stone-grey with shoulder-stripe and eel stripe{{r|mon|page=30}}
| features =
| note =
}}
The {{lang|de|italic=no|Thüringer Waldesel}} or Thuringian Forest Donkey is a recently created German breed of domestic donkey.
History
The Thüringer Waldesel derives from a small group of miscellaneous donkeys collected in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and West Thuringia, supplemented with similar-looking donkeys brought from the United Kingdom, and bred both at the {{ill|Thüringer Zoopark Erfurt|de}} at Erfurt in Thuringia, and at the {{ill|Wildpark Hundshaupten|de}} in Egloffstein in Bavaria.{{r|cabi|page=48}} In 2019 the breeding programme was approved by the {{ill|Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen|de}}, and the Thüringer Waldesel was recognised as a breed. Seven jennies and two jacks were registered in the stud-book.{{r|geh}} As there are very few of the donkeys, the breed is reported to DAD-IS as critically endangered.{{r|dad}}
Characteristics
The Thüringer Waldesel is of medium size. Jacks stand 100–110 cm at the withers, and weigh about 133–210 kg; jennies stand some 95–110 cm, and weigh 156–185 kg.{{r|mon|page=30}} The coat is usually stone-grey, with dark shoulder-stripe and eel stripe; the legs often display zebra stripes.{{r|mon|page=30}}