One of the 2 asses on WAnimals
Mammals · Perissodactyla · Equidae
African Wild Ass
Equus africanus
It faces an extremely high risk of imminent extinction in the wild. See full glossary
It is the wild ancestor of the domestic donkey, and only a few hundred pure animals remain in the wild. Dominant males hold territories of up to 23 km² marked with dung piles.
Weight
230 kg – 320 kg
Size
2 m – 2.5 m
Lifespan
25 years
Diet
Herbivore
Feeds mainly on plants.
Activity
Crepuscular
Active above all at dawn and dusk.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Very hard
Estimated population
Fewer than 200 mature individuals in the wild, split between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
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 & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & 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
- Lifespan 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
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: All year round in the deserts of Eritrea and Ethiopia; it is easiest to see at dawn and dusk, near waterholes.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with African Wild Ass — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
EndangeredGrevy's Zebra
Equus grevyi
Mountain Zebra
Equus zebra
Ass
Equus asinus
Takhi
Equus przewalskii
Asiatic Wild Ass
Equus hemionus
Kiang
Equus kiang
How to help
The african wild ass is classified as critically endangered. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
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