Domestication of many animals by humans happened several thousand years ago. The most important reason was the valuable help that animals provided in the survival of the human species.
The first animal to be domesticated is believed to be the wolf before the Neolithic Age around 12000 BC, which has evolved over the years into a dog species.
Wild boar was domesticated in Europe, Asia, North Africa and Oceania 10,000 years ago.
The reindeer were probably one of the first herbivores to be domesticated.
The sheep were domesticated in Iran and northern India 5,000 years ago.
Horses were domesticated mainly during the Bronze Age.
Other theories, however, argue that the domestication of animals took place even before about 12,000 BC.