WikiMini

Somali wild ass

Somali wild ass
A Somali wild ass at the Saint Louis Zoo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus
Species:
E. africanus
Subspecies:
E. a. somaliensis
Trinomial name
Equus africanus somaliensis
(Noack, 1884)[2]
Synonyms[4]
  • Asinus taeniopus var. Somaliensis Noack, 1884
  • Equus asinus somalicus Sclater, 1884[3]
Two Somali Wild Ass at Marwell Zoo

The Somali wild ass (Equus africanus somaliensis)[4] also known as the Somali wild donkey,[5] is a subspecies of the African wild ass.

The legs of the Somali wild ass are striped, resembling those of its relatives, the zebras.

There are estimated to be 600 specimens living in the wild.[6] They are in Somalia, Somaliland, the Southern Red Sea region of Eritrea, and the Afar Region of Ethiopia.[7] In addition, it is estimated that there are 200 specimens living in captivity in zoos worldwide.[8]

The IUCN Red List of endangered species described it as "critically endangered" and they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Behavior

[edit]

Due to the limited resources found in their habitat, Somali wild asses live in a fission–fusion society. Most adults live alone, but sometimes form small herds consisting of females and their young. In areas that have more resources, or have more rain, they will sometimes fuse together to form larger temporary herds. Stallions can maintain territories as large as nine square miles. They frequently leave dung piles as markers to remind them of their territory's boundaries. While females are welcome in their territories, stallions will often fight other males who try to mate with females in their territories. However, stallions have been observed allowing males into their territories for grazing, as long as they show no interest in his harem.[9]

Reproduction

[edit]

Somali wild asses typically give birth in the spring, a common characteristic among equids, after a year-long gestation.[6] Within hours, the foal is up on its legs and keeping up with its mother.[6] At around five days old, the foal is already nibbling grass.[6] By the time its two weeks old, the foal is grazing regularly, however, still depending on its mother's milk for fluids.[6] The foal is weaned by 12 to 14 months, but still stays close to its mother, only leaving to play or feed with the other foals in the herd.[6]

Breeding programs

[edit]

Zoo Basel

[edit]
Somali Wild Ass at Zoo Basel

The leading zoo for breeding the Somali wild ass is Zoo Basel, Switzerland. Its breeding program manages the European studbook for the Somali wild ass and coordinates the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) as well as the global species committee of the Somali Wild Ass since 2004.[10]

Zoo Basel started keeping Somali wild asses in 1970 and had its first birth in 1972. As of 2009, 11 stallions and 24 mares were born and survived to adulthood.[11] Today, all Somali wild donkeys in captivity are related to the original group at Zoo Basel.[12]

As of January 18, 2012, there were four Somali wild donkeys in Basel: The stallion "Gigolo" (3) and three females (among them "Yogala"-14).[13]

France

[edit]

Since 1987, the Réserve Africaine de Sigean, in the south of France, has had several Somali wild asses, with births occurring on June 30, 2010,[5] and on March 29, 2013.[14]

United States

[edit]

Only six institutions breed Somali wild ass in the United States: Dallas Zoo,[15] Saint Louis Zoo,[16] San Diego Zoo Safari Park,[17] Zoo Miami,[18] Denver Zoo[19] and White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida.[20]

White Oak Conservation received a herd in 2008 as part of an international effort to save Somali wild ass from extinction. Since then, the herd has produced 18 foals, including several born in spring 2013.[20]

The Dallas Zoo had two Somali wild ass foals, both female, one born July 9 and the other on July 19, 2017. The most recent birth at the Saint Louis Zoo was on July 30, 2019.[21]

In January 2025, a female was born at the Denver Zoo.[22]

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to eleven Somali Wild Asses, the largest population of Somali Wild Asses in North America. The park received its first herd from the Basel Zoo in 1981. The first foal was born in 1986. Since then, 49 foals have been born, including a female born on March 17, 2018.[9][23]

Czech Republic

[edit]

In July 2023, a male was born at Safari Park Dvůr Králové.[24]

United Kingdom

[edit]

In June 2022, a Somali wild ass was born at Africa Alive; the mother had arrived in 2007 from Basel Zoo.[25]

In August 2024, a Somali wild ass was born at Knowsley Safari Park.[26][27]

In September 2024, a Somali wild ass was born at Woburn Safari Park.[28][29]

Protected populations in the wild

[edit]

A conservation project (mainly supported by Zoo Basel) in Eritrea counted (before 2014) 47 Somali wild asses living in the mountains between the Buri Peninsula and the Dallol Depression, which is within the larger Danakil Depression, near Eritrea's border with Ethiopia.[30][31]

A protected population of the Somali wild ass exists in the Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve. This Israeli reserve was established in 1968 with the view to bolster populations of endangered desert species.[12][32]

Domestication

[edit]

There are domestic donkeys found in Italy that were descended from the Somali wild ass since the times of Ancient Rome, as opposed to donkeys from other European countries where domesticated stock are usually descended from the Nubian wild ass.[33][34][35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Moehlman, P.D.; Kebede, F.; Yohannes, H. (2015). "Equus africanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T7949A45170994. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T7949A45170994.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021. Assessment includes information on conservation status of two recognised subspecies.
  2. ^ (in German) Noack, Th. (1884). "Neues aus der Tierhandlung von Karl Hagenbeck, sowie aus dem Zoologischen Garten in Hamburg". Der Zoologische Garten 25: 100-115.
  3. ^ Sclater, P.L. (1884). "On some mammals from Somali-land". Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London 1884: 538-542, pls. 49-50.
  4. ^ a b Groves, C.P.; Smeenk, C. (June 2007). "The nomenclature of the African wild ass" (PDF).
  5. ^ a b "A new born Somali donkey walks next to its mother". Getty Images. 8 July 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Perkins, Wendy (June 5, 2017). "Somali Wild Ass: A Vanishing Breed Holds On". San Diego Zoo.
  7. ^ "Seltene Schönheit - Somali-Wildeselfohlen bezaubert das Zolli-Publikum" [Rare beauty – Somali wild donkey foal enchants the Zolli audience] (in German). Zoo Basel. 16 December 2010.
  8. ^ "New arrival for the Somali wild asses". Zoo Basel. December 1, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Perkins, Wendy (5 June 2017). "Somali Wild Ass". San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
  10. ^ PAGAN, O.; VON HOUWALD, F.; WENKER, C.; STECK, B. L. (30 January 2009). "Husbandry and breeding of Somali wild ass Equus africanus somalicus at Basel Zoo, Switzerland". Zoological Society of London. 43: 198–211. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.2008.00072.x – via Wiley.
  11. ^ "Zweites Somali-Wildeselfohlen im Zolli geboren" [Second Somali wild donkey foal born at Zolli]. Zoo Basel (in German). 27 December 2007.
  12. ^ a b Turner, Roberta B. (May 2, 2021). "The African Wild Ass". The Light Mag.
  13. ^ "Dance of the Somali wild asses". Zoo Basel. 18 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Une naissance très rare à la Réserve de Sigean" [A very rare birth at the Sigean Reserve]. La Dépêche du Midi (in French). April 27, 2013.
  15. ^ Sault, Spring (August 11, 2017). "Dallas Zoo Welcomed 2 Rare Somali Wild Ass Foals in July". Texas Hill Country.
  16. ^ "Somali wild ass born at St. Louis Zoo". Saint Louis Zoo. May 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "Somali Wild Ass". San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
  18. ^ "ENDANGERED SOMALI WILD ASS BORN AT ZOO MIAMI!". Zoo Miami. March 12, 2021.
  19. ^ "DZCA Welcomes First Somali Wild Ass Foal". Denver Zoo. January 17, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Somali Wild Ass". White Oak Conservation.
  21. ^ "Somali Wild Ass Foal Born at Saint Louis Zoo". Saint Louis Zoo. 27 August 2019.
  22. ^ "DZCA Welcomes First Somali Wild Ass Foal". Denver Zoo. January 17, 2025.
  23. ^ "Somali Wild Ass Foal Explores Habitat". San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. April 12, 2018.
  24. ^ "A Somali Wild Ass was born on a day as hot as it would have been in his homeland". Safari Park Dvůr Králové. July 12, 2023.
  25. ^ "Africa Alive Zoological Reserve celebrates birth of one of the rarest equine species in the world". Africa Alive. June 30, 2022.
  26. ^ "Rare Somali wild ass foal born at Knowsley Safari Park". BBC News. August 19, 2024.
  27. ^ "Critically endangered Somali wild ass born at Knowsley Safari". British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. August 20, 2024.
  28. ^ "Lucky foal arrives on Friday 13th". Woburn Safari Park. September 22, 2024.
  29. ^ "Critically Endangered Somali Wild Ass Born at UK Safari Park". The Herald and Weekly Times. September 23, 2024.
  30. ^ "Somali-Wildesel in Äthiopien" [Somali wild ass in Ethiopia]. Zoo Basel.
  31. ^ Moehlman, Patricia D.; Yohannes, Hagos; Teclai, Redae; Hagos, Futsum (August 2014). "Report to Basel Zoo - African wild ass (Equus africanus): Population dynamics, distribution and status in Eritrea" (PDF). Zoo Basel.
  32. ^ "Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve". Lonely Planet.
  33. ^ "Pompeii Horse Is in Fact an Ass". BBC News. 3 November 2010.
  34. ^ "Identity of Pompeii's mystery horse revealed". University of Cambridge. 17 December 2010.
  35. ^ "Mysterious horse is a donkey". University of Münster. 15 November 2010.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Equus africanus somaliensis.