Somali Wild Ass
Encyclopedia
The Somali Wild Ass is a subspecies
of the African wild ass
. It was found in the Southern Red Sea
region of Eritrea
, the Afar Region
of Ethiopia
, and Somalia
. The legs of the Somali wild ass are horizontally striped with black, resembling those of a zebra
.
A few hundred animals live in Ethiopia
as well as in Eritrea
. There might be still some in Somalia
. Wars and food competition with domesticated animals / local population, as well as decreasing food and water sources diminished wild population - extremely in the past few years .
The leading zoo for breeding this rare donkey 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.
Basel started having Somali wild asses in 1970 and had its first birth in 1972. Since then, 11 stallions and 24 females (as of 2009) were born and survived childhood Today, all Somali wild donkeys in captivity are related to the original group at Zoo Basel.
As of December 16, 2010, there are four Somali wild donkeys in Basel: The stallion "Ares" (22), three females (among them "Yogala"-12), and the baby girl "Hakaba."
.
counts 47 Somali wild asses living in the mountains between the Buri Peninsula
and the Dalool ditch.
A protected population of the Somali wild ass exists in the Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve in Israel, to the north of Eilat. This reserve was established in 1968 with the view to bolster populations of endangered desert species.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the African wild ass
African Wild Ass
The African Wild Ass is a wild member of the horse family, Equidae. This species is believed to be the ancestor of the domestic donkey which is usually placed within the same species. They live in the deserts and other arid areas of northeastern Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia; it...
. It was found in the Southern Red Sea
Southern Red Sea
The Southern Red Sea Region of Eritrea is one of the six main regions of Eritrea. It lies along the southern half of the Red Sea, and contains the coastal city of Asseb. It borders the Northern Red Sea Region, and has an area of around 27,600km²....
region of Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, the Afar Region
Afar Region
Afar is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, and is the homeland of the Afar people. Formerly known as Region 2, its current capital is Asayita; a new capital named Semera on the paved Awash - Asseb highway is under construction....
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, and Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. The legs of the Somali wild ass are horizontally striped with black, resembling those of a zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
.
Current Distribution and habitat
There are likely less than 1000 animals (or even 700) in the wild and the IUCN Red List of endangered species described it as "critically endangered". This means they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.A few hundred animals live in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
as well as in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. There might be still some in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Wars and food competition with domesticated animals / local population, as well as decreasing food and water sources diminished wild population - extremely in the past few years .
Global Population
There are about 200 individuals (2011) around the globe living in 34 zoos, as well as three animals in Hai-Bar, Israel (as of 2009). The International studbook is managed by Tierpark Berlin.Zoo Basel
Zoo Basel
Zoo Basel is a non-profit zoo located within the city of Basel, Switzerland. Its official name is Zoologischer Garten Basel — or in English: Basel Zoological Garden. Basel residents, however, call their zoo affectionately Zolli...
, Switzerland. Its breeding program
Breeding programs at Zoo Basel
The breeding programs at Zoo Basel have had many highlights since the zoos opening in 1874. These include the worldwide first zoo births of an Indian rhinoceros and Greater Flamingo hatch, as well as the first European gorilla birth...
manages the European studbook for the Somali wild ass and coordinates the European Endangered Species Programme
European Endangered Species Programme
The European Endangered Species Programme or EEP is the most intensive type of population management for a species kept in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria zoos...
(EEP) - as well as the global species committee of the Somali Wild Ass since 2004.
Basel started having Somali wild asses in 1970 and had its first birth in 1972. Since then, 11 stallions and 24 females (as of 2009) were born and survived childhood Today, all Somali wild donkeys in captivity are related to the original group at Zoo Basel.
As of December 16, 2010, there are four Somali wild donkeys in Basel: The stallion "Ares" (22), three females (among them "Yogala"-12), and the baby girl "Hakaba."
Domestication
Donkeys found in Italy are typically descended from the Somali Wild Ass, as opposed to those from other European countries where domesticated donkeys are usually descended from the Nubian Wild AssNubian Wild Ass
The Nubian Wild Ass is a subspecies of the African wild ass, and probably the ancestor of domestic donkeys, since both have a stripe across the shoulder. The ass was domesticated about 6,000 years ago, probably in Egypt or Mesopotamia.The Nubian wild ass is most likely extinct in the wild since...
.
Conservation
A conservation project (mainly supported by Zoo Basel) in the East-African country of EritreaEritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
counts 47 Somali wild asses living in the mountains between the Buri Peninsula
Buri Peninsula
The Buri Peninsula extends from central Eritrea north into the Red Sea. To its west lies the Gulf of Zula. Varied in geography, it features mangroves and salt pans. It is known for its wildlife, including ostriches, hamadryas baboons and wild asses. Notable elevations include Mount Dulhi and...
and the Dalool ditch.
A protected population of the Somali wild ass exists in the Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve in Israel, to the north of Eilat. This reserve was established in 1968 with the view to bolster populations of endangered desert species.
External links
- Somali wild ass at the St. Louis Zoo
- What's the Zoo to do with its wild ass problem? St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Accessed November 6, 2008
- Somali wild ass at Al Wabra Wildlife Preserve