A new publication has, for the first time in proper fashion, detailed and described the highly endangered Maltese donkey.
The study was conducted by naturalist Arnold Sciberras, botanist Jeffrey Siberras and equestrian trainer and coach Gina Curmi, and intensively studied historical images, accounts and even hearsay of the animal.
‘Twenty universally standard measurements were taken on each specimen so a standard could be proposed for the identification of the breed.’
‘This study is part of a series of over 20 published works on the subject describing over 130 breeds of plants and 40 breeds animals belonging to several species that originated from the Maltese islands yet so much more needs to be done.’
The Maltese Landraces Research Group is an initiative launched by the Sciberras brothers two decades ago, aimed at promoting the preservation and scientific documentation of Maltese landraces—unique breeds and strains of domestic plants and animals that originated in the Maltese Islands or have names linked to the archipelago.
These landraces were developed in Malta through the process of artificial selection and domestication.
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Source: Maltese Landraces Research Group – Columbatopia
