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Why were donkeys and camels mainly used for transportation?

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Domesticated yaks carrying supplies in colorful bundles walk along a rocky mountain trail toward Everest Base Camp, with snow-covered peaks in the background in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. — Domestication Domesticated yaks (*Bos grunniens*) carrying supplies to an Everest base camp in Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu region, Nepal.

Donkeys and camels were primarily utilized for transportation because of their unique biological adaptations, which allowed them to thrive in environments where other livestock could not flourish and where wheeled vehicles were impractical.12

Camels

Camels are essential beasts of burden in arid regions due to their remarkable ability to survive extreme dehydration and heat. Their wide-spreading feet prevent them from sinking into sand, and they can subsist on coarse, sparse vegetation—such as thorns and dry shrubs—that other animals refuse. These physiological traits enabled them to serve as the backbone of caravan trade across vast deserts in Africa and Asia.345

Donkeys

Donkeys are highly valued for their hardiness and ability to work in rough, challenging terrain, such as mountains and arid plains, where horses often struggle. They are known for their sure-footedness and cognitive ability to navigate difficult conditions, remember paths, and assess their surroundings for safety. Because they can carry heavy loads over precarious ground, they remain a vital means of transport in regions where infrastructure is limited or nonexistent.162