African Wild Ass (Equus africanus): habitat and range

Fun facts

It is the wild ancestor of every domestic donkey in the world.
Barely a few hundred pure animals remain in the wild, in Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Males defend territories of up to 23 km², marked with dung piles.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat and environment: Rocky desert and semi-desert of north-eastern Africa, in mountainous country up to 2,000 m
Birth weight: 8.6 - 34 kg
Size at birth: Able to stand and suckle some 30 minutes after birth
Sexual maturity: 2 years (though males get no access to females until they hold a territory, at around 3-4 years)
Gestation / incubation: 11-12 months (359 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth
Life expectancy in captivity: A documented record of up to 28.5-47 years in captivity (the higher figure being for domestic donkeys)

Sources consulted: Ultimate Ungulate; AnAge; Animal Spot; Animal Diversity Web; DIY.org; Animalia.bio; Wikipedia

Where to find it

Best time: All year round in the deserts of Eritrea and Ethiopia; it is easiest to see at dawn and dusk, near waterholes.

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Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with African Wild Ass — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

Same taxonomic family

How to help

The african wild ass is classified as critically endangered. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.

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African Wild Ass