The donkey has served mankind for thousands of years and can be used in a variety of ways. Donkeys are very efficient mammals. They help farmers with their work, transport loads, produce mules, keep horses company, herd sheep or are even kept as pets. They are also prized in many regions for their ability to live in the desert. With their robust stomachs and their ability to extract water from food, donkeys are superior to horses there. Donkeys were known for their use in times of war as well as their general reliability, and their numbers and popularity are steadily increasing.