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The Role of Training in the Domestication Process – Traditional Nubian Methods and Ideas About Training Donkeys

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The Role of Training in the Domestication Process – Traditional Nubian Methods and Ideas About Training Donkeys © Kamla-Raj 2018 J Hum Ecol, 63(1-3): 1-8 (2018) PRINT: ISSN 0970-9274 ONLINE: ISSN 2456-6608 DOI: 10.31901/24566608.2019/63.1-3.3124 The Role of Training in the Domestication Process – Traditional Nubian Methods and Ideas about Training Donkeys Rikako Kimura Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan 156-8502 E-mail: [email protected] KEYWORDS Equus asinus. Juvenile Period. Nubia. Socialization Period. Taming. Wild Ass ABSTRACT This study involves a survey conducted among Nubian people settled in Nubia, a region of northeastern Africa that provides a habitat for the wild ass (Equus africanus). The aim of the survey, which involves interviewing community members, was to clarify the effects of early donkey training in order to assess the impact of human intervention at the initial stages of the donkey domestication process. The interviews covered the methods of capturing and training wild asses (by imaging) and donkeys, their ages, and the time needed for packing and riding training. Most respondents stated that they would capture wild asses and begin their early training when the animals were 1–1.5 years old, following a period of socialization. The early training, which starts by tying up donkeys in huts, is conducted when they are 1.5 years old, for approximately 2 weeks. However, foals that were reared with their mothers until they were around 1.5 years old are deemed to have mainly completed the early training; they do not need the early training by humans. INTRODUCTION Human-animal intimacy reflects the extent to which animals obey humans. Training is a process Mitochondrial DNA analyses have shown that humans intentionally apply on animals to make that wild asses made a large genetic contribu- them obedient (Herre and Rohrs 1973). An accu- tion to the process of domesticating donkeys rate understanding of age, method, and continuity (Equus asinus). The breeds of asses involved are considered key to clarifying the position of include the Nubian Wild Ass (E. africanus afri- “taming” in the domestication system. canus) and the Somali Wild Ass (E. africanus This paper summarizes a survey conducted somaliensis), as well as one extinct species. among Nubian people who are settled in Nubia, There were at least two movements of domesti- a region of northeastern Africa that provides a cation in the historical periods (Beja-Pereira et habitat for wild asses (IUCN 2015). As agricul- al. 2004; Kimura et al. 2011). tural and livestock farmers since 5000 BC, the Earlier studies attempted to examine the spe- Nubian people have continued to raise and train cific methods and initial actions used in the do- donkeys. This survey interview focused on com- mestication of Equidae by considering their be- munities that inherited a traditional donkey cul- havioral ecology (Inazumi 2015; Kimura 2015; ture, gathering information about actual meth- Levine 1999; Price 1999). Kimura and Tefera (2018) ods, animal ages, training periods, and tools, as pointed out the importance of stress control for well as the effects of early training and the rec- donkeys during the early training in Ethiopia. Baier ognition of training. Ethology and ecological and Reed argued that training had no effect on anthropology perspectives were used to review domestication (Herre and Rohrs 1973); however, the methods and types of human intervention at in the field of ethology, researchers have pointed the initial stage of donkey domestication. out the need to clarify the interaction between “environments×behaviors×genes.” It is high time METHODOLOGY that systems of domestication were reviewed and reconsidered (Jensen 2014). Targets Address for correspondence: Place and Community Rikako Kimura 1-1-1, Sakuragaoka, Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan 156-8502 Telephone: +81-(0)9049558836 The Nubian people live between the first Fax: +81-(0)467238727 cataract (Aswan, Egypt) and the sixth cataract E-mail: [email protected] of the Nile (Khartoum, Sudan), a region that has 2 RIKAKO KIMURA been called Nubia (gold) since ancient times. The topics included the methods of captur- Most Nubian people now live in Aswan, Egypt ing wild asses (the wild ass is almost extinct in (lower Nubia) and along both sides of the River this area, so the respondents were asked to imag- Nile (upper Nubia) (Emberling 2011). The ancient ine the ways of capturing them.), the animals’ Nubian dynasty dates back to around 3700 BC. age and sex, training methods, the time required The records of Harkhuf, a governor of southern for early training, and ways of training donkeys Upper Egypt in the ancient Egyptian sixth dy- to carry riders. Questions about breeding man- nasty (2323–2152 BC), state that minerals, ivory, agement were asked as a reference. The survey and animal skins were traded and transported was conducted through a semi-structured inter- using caravans of 300 donkeys in Kush (Nubia) view according to the contents of a Q&A sheet (Geodicke 1981). It is clear that Ancient Nubia prepared in advance (Vaughn et al. 1996). Inter- (Kush) was rich in gold mines, had daringly brave views were conducted with the aid of two Nubi- mercenaries, and maintained a ruled/ruler rela- an interpreters living in each country. As the tionship with Egypt until the seventh century participants were full-time farmers who did not BC (Draper 2008). use donkey carts for industrial purposes, no For the purpose of this research, a listening questions were asked about training donkeys survey was carried out among 20 randomly se- to pull carts. The response rates are shown as lected households in 13 villages between Aswan percentages (%), and answers that go beyond (Egypt) and Khartoum (the capital of Sudan) the questions asked are shown as the number of (Fig. 1). This area has a desert climate, and irri- cases. gation farming is conducted in the oasis area along the Nile River. A total of 1.5 million people RESULTS speak Nubian in Egypt and Sudan. The survey targeted those who were engaged in agriculture Purpose, Methods, and Target Ages of the and commerce in Egypt as well as full-time farm- Animal at Each Training Stage ers in Sudan. The percentage of households rais- ing donkeys in the target villages in Sudan was Capture Stage approximately hundred percent (with each house- hold raising 1-3 donkeys); in Egypt however, the Purpose rate was slightly lower. The number of donkeys This question was asked based on the raised in Egypt was 3.35 million, while 610,000 premise that wild asses were captured for the donkeys were raised in Sudan (FAO Statistics purpose of taming. The respondents answered 2014). the question by using their imagination because the population of wild ass is extremely low in this region at present. The animal is listed on the N red list of IUCN (CR). Aswan Methods 0 100km The methods include capturing wild asses/ EGYPT donkeys using ropes (80%) or by a bare-handed SUDAN group of two or three people (20%). It is impor- Atab Abri tant to lure the animals using grass and cereals Wawa (alfalfa, sorghum) and to feed them before the Sabu Tombos capture (eight cases). Kermah Latti Alsilaim Gortog Target Ages Umogal Wild asses are captured at the following ages: Tamtam 6 to 10 months (15%), 1 year to 1.5 years (70%), and 2 years or older (15%). It is important for the animals to be old enough for training to start Fig. 1. Map of the research area immediately. However, donkeys are not trained NUBIAN METHODS AND IDEAS ABOUT TRAINING DONKEYS 3 to carry riders until they are 2 years old (100%) Method (Fig. 2). Tie the end of a long rope around one fore- 100% leg of the donkey and stake the other end to the 90% ground (90%); alternatively, tie one end of a rope 80% around the donkey’s neck and stake the other 70% end to the ground (100%). These methods of 60% tying up donkeys are generally used for pur- 50% poses other than training. Donkeys tied with a 40% 30% rope around the neck move less freely than those 20% tied on the leg. Accordingly, even after taming, a 10% leg rope is generally used when donkeys are 0 grass-feeding or tied up for the night. A neck CapturingCapturing wild wild ass ass EarlyEarly training TrainingTraining for for n=20 n =20 (imagination) of donkey riding (imagination) of donkey riding rope is usually used in the daytime to prevent donkeys from moving around freely. Ages 2~3 Ages Ages 1~21~2 AgesAges 0~10~1 The next step involves putting a halter (sareema in Nubian) onto the donkey’s head Fig. 2. Capturing and training ages of the wild before being tied to a stake (100%). The halters asses and donkeys in Nubia are tightened on powerful and restive donkeys to increase their binding force. These early train- Taming Wild Asses/Donkeys to Accustom them ing methods are often carried out in enclosed to Humans (Early Training, Training for stone huts (Fig. 4). The donkeys are fed twice a day (100%) and either taken to watering places Carrying Loads) or given water in tubs. The interiors of the huts are kept clean by removing manure and other Purpose dirt (four cases). Training is conducted on soft, sandy ground to prevent the donkeys and peo- The purpose is to tame untrained donkeys. ple from getting injured (two cases). Once train- This process is particularly essential for restive ing is completed, the halters can be loosened or or disobedient donkeys, such as foals not reared removed for riding. At the next stage, a person with their mothers after weaning. In many cases, leads a tamed donkey to water by walking with this process is not needed for foals reared with the donkey and pulling its neck rope or halter trained mothers after weaning, as they are al- (100%).
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