African Wild Ass

(Equus africanus)

This page is also available in Spanish: Asno Silvestre de Africa en Español.

The African wild ass is found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia in Africa. They look a little bit like domestic donkeys, but they are gray with black and white stripes on their legs. In fact, domestic donkeys were bred from wild asses many years ago. They live in deserts and savanna habitats. They are able to survive in deserts because they can eat the thorny and tough plants that live there. In deserts, wild asses spend most of their time alone. Only mothers and their foals can be found together regularly. If too many were together in one place, there wouldnÕt be enough food to go around. In habitats where there is more food, many females and their foals stay with one male.

Right now there are very few wild asses in Africa. One reason is that they are hunted for food by local people. Another reason is that local people keep sheep, camels, and other grazing animals that eat the same sorts of food wild asses do. Once a domestic herd has passed through an area, there may not be enough food left over for the wild asses. In 1997 there was a drought in this part of Africa. There was not enough food, so many females didn't have foals. The drought ended in 1998. There was more food, and more females had foals. Patricia Moehlman and the Equid Specialist Group are working to protect this interesting species by educating local people about the wild ass. Hopefully this will help save the African wild ass.

Questions about wild equids?
Ask Patricia Moehlman.