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Animal record

Hank's 17.12-inch ears set the record for a living donkey

The 16-year-old Mammoth Jackstock beat the previous living-donkey record by about 3.3 centimeters.

By Ellis FinchOMG Culture & Curiosity Desk

4 min read

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A close view of a donkey's long ears against a pale sky
This licensed photograph shows a donkey's ears, but it is not Hank. Hank's record measurement was completed separately in Muncy, Pennsylvania. Photo by Håkan Dahlström via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0.

Hank's official ear-length mark is 17.12 inches, or 43.50 centimeters, enough to make the 16-year-old Mammoth Jackstock a Guinness World Records holder. The number was not eyeballed. Veterinarian Allison Dotzel took three measurements under witness supervision, and the readings were averaged for the official result.

The record was measured in Pennsylvania

The measurement took place August 7 in Muncy, Pennsylvania. Guinness says veterinarian Allison Dotzel worked before witnesses and averaged repeated readings to reach 43.50 centimeters, the official mark for the longest ears on a living donkey.

Hank cleared the previous mark by about 3.3 centimeters

Hank beat the previous record holder, a donkey named Hope, by about 3.3 centimeters. Guinness published his feature on August 27, twenty days after the measurement.

A gray donkey with upright ears stands outside in daylight
An illustrative donkey portrait photographed in Germany. This is not Hank. Photo by Ma Ti via Unsplash. Unsplash License. Resized for article presentation.

The ears belong to a 16-year-old Mammoth Jackstock

Hank is a 16-year-old Mammoth Jackstock, a breed whose name suits the proportions readers notice first. Guinness identifies Jennifer Gee as his keeper and owner.

Gee told Guinness she met Hank five years ago while looking for other pasture animals. He ran up, stayed close and changed her plan. She went home with Hank instead.

She describes him as playful and goofy. He joins her on hikes and competes in trail obstacle events, which gives those record-setting ears somewhere to go.

His family celebrated with the things Hank would notice

Gee told Guinness that Hank's family celebrated with hugs, treats and plans for T-shirts printed with his picture. The official record took witnesses, a veterinarian and repeated measurements. Hank's reward was simpler: the treats came after.

Sources and supporting documents

Ellis Finch is a named OMG editorial voice, not a fictional human biography. This story passed separate evidence, rights, line-editing, originality, and skeptical-review checks before publication.

Guinness World RecordsLongest ears on a living donkeyGuinness World RecordsHank the donkey's record-ear feature

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