Humans since ancient times have sometimes crossed animals to produce hybrid animals. Well, this one finding, according to scientists, is the first hybrid animal developed by humans.
As quoted from New Scientist, as many as 25 animal skeletons were found several years ago in a cemetery complex in Syria. This grave is estimated to be 4,500 years old.
At the time of discovery, archaeologists were astonished because the shape is similar to a horse, but slightly different in shape. Moreover, horses are not known to have existed in the area until 500 years later.
Subsequent research concluded that the animal turned out to be the result of crossbreeding between a domestic donkey and a wild donkey in Syria at that time. The clay donkey was extinct about a century ago.
To identify the hybrid animal, Eva Maria Geigl, a researcher from the University of Paris and colleagues, analyzed its DNA sequence. It is believed that this animal is actually a 'kunga', a mysterious animal that appears in ancient relics in Syria and Mesopotamia.
Kunga was highly valued at that time and its value could be up to 6 times that of an ordinary donkey. They were used to pull royal chariots and chariots.
The first time people thought about interbreeding the animal in question was because they saw it in the wild. Domestic donkeys are more docile but slow on the battlefield while wild donkeys are fast but overly aggressive, so a combination of the two will result in a more balanced animal.
"But breeding them will not be easy because it requires a special strategy to catch the Syrian wild donkey, which is very fast, then bring it to the female domestic donkey so that it can produce hybrid animals," said Eva.
Around 4,000 ago, horses became known in the region. Kunga as a hybrid animal at that time may no longer be bred because the existing horse can fulfill its role. "Kunga bred with hard work and not as good as horses," concluded Eva.