Somali wild ass
(Equus africanus somalicus)
Coordinator: Olivier Pagan
Institution: Zoologischer Garten Basel
IUCN Red List status
Programme roles
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• Insurance : The Somali wild ass is listed as Critically Endangered and the EAZA population will be managed as an insurance population. • Capacity Building The EEP will work together with Eritrean and Ethiopian PhD students and local scientist to build capacity for in situ research that involves local communities. This will be in close collaboration with the IUCN SCC Equid group. • Research (cryopreservation) As Somali wild ass is Critically Endangered and the availability of new founders for the EEP is limited and uncertain the EEP will investigate opportunities for cryopreservation. |
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• Research (Veterinary) Somali wild ass is prevalent to Equine Herpes Virus and sarcoid tumors. Within the EEP veterinary research will continue into these diseases to develop a vaccine. • Fundraising The programme will implement small scale fundraising to contribute to high priority in situ projects or IUCN SSC Specialist Group activities. |
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• Education The programme will provide education materials for EAZA Members to highlight that the Somali wild ass is the ancestor of the domestic donkey. |
Programme numbers
In October 2020 the Somali wild ass EEP had 167 animals in 38 institutions
Programme highlights
- The IUCN SSC Equid Specialist Group has a fact sheet available on the African wild ass.
- In Zooquaria 110 (Winter 2020) on page 18 there is an article about the Equid TAG RCP.
- The EAZA Annual TAG Report 2021 has been published and on page 49 the activities of the Equid TAG have been highlighted.