The "Wild Burros" of the American West are actually feral burros; animals loosed by Conquistadors, explorers, farmers, miners, and others. Feral or wild, the animals running loose in western North America show the characteristics of their ancestors, the two different wild burro populations which originated in northern Africa. The Nubian Wild Burro has a black stripe down it's back, and another across it's shoulders. The Somalian Wild Burro has stripes on all four legs, much like a Zebra. If you look close at southern Nevada's Wild Burros many carry both Nubian and Somalian characteristics. Yes they originated in Africa, but are American by birth. And there lies the argument. Are they destructive feral pests which should be eliminated (or at least severely curtailed), or are they part of the American Southwest and thusly should be allowed to roam free as the native species?