The Somali wild ass wouldn′t be mistaken for anyone′s barnyard donkey. It Has a regal bearing and proud manner; curious and courageous, not aloof and cantankerous like its domestic cousin. The British explorer Samuel W. Baker wrote, "Those who have seen donkeys in their civilized state have no conception of the beauty of the wild and original animal. Far from the passive and subdued appearance of the English ass, the animal in its native desert is the perfection of activity and courage; there is a high-bred tone in the deportment, a high-actioned step when it trots freely over the rocks and sand, with the speed of a horse when it gallops over the boundless desert."

Physical Description
At the shoulder the Somali wild ass is 129 cms or 51 inches tall. The adult males weigh 200 to 275 kg (440 to 606 lbs) and females weigh 190 to 250kg (418 to 551 lbs). Its coat is red sandy to grayish fawn in color, changing to light gray in the dry season. Its special markings are narrow black leg stripes, a whitish belly and a black stripe down its back. Its long ears, 182 to 245 mm (7 to 9 inches), stand up, have white insides and are tipped in black. The mane is black and about five to eight inches high and has a bushy appearance. The tail ends above its hips in a tassel of black hairs. The large, dark eyes are wide set in the skull which gives the Somali wild ass excellent vision with which to spot predators or other dangers.

Life Cycle
Somali wild asses breed year-round. The females enter estrus about once a month for a period of two days to one week. The males can tell if a female is in estrus by how she smells. Often the male tastes the urine of the female in a process called "phlegming" In their natural habitat, breeding and birth go hand-in-hand with seasonal rains and availability of food sources. Most females aren′t able to reproduce until they are at least two years old. Males reach sexual maturity at five years of age. Gestation lasts 377 to 390 days. Foals nurse for about a year, but often are weaned by ten months. The longevity of the Somali wild ass is about 25 years.

Behavioral Description
The Somali wild ass does not live in a herd. The females will sometimes form small groups of up to 5 individuals, but these usually consist of mares and their offspring. The males are by far the most solitary in habit, although young males may form small bachelor groups for brief periods. The males are territorial and mark the boundaries of their territory with piles of dung. These piles act as a signal to other males that the females within the territory are spoken for. Often the territories are centered around a water source. The females and foals are not particularly territorial and will wander in and out of the territories of males following resources like grass and water. The Somali wild ass is crepuscular (most active early in the day and in the evening) and sleep during the middle of the day when temperatures are the highest. The habitat of the Somali wild ass is very rough and so most of their time is spent looking for food. The Somali wild ass needs to eat a lot of food to get what their bodies need. Seventy percent of their time during the dry season is spent eating. The Somali wild ass has been observed standing on its hind legs to reach food in tree branches. It can go for as long as two to three days without water.

Habitat Description
Thier habitat is classified as Xeric grasslands. (Xeric= very dry) The annual rainfall varies from less than 100 mm (3 inches) at the coast to around 200 mm (8 inches) further inland. The average minimum temperatures range from 21 to 24 degrees Celsius (69.8 to 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit ) to an average maximum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit.). Of the few permanent water sources, the most notable is the Awash River in eastern Ethiopia. The area has many hills, is volcanically active and at times has many earthquakes. The typical plants found in this habitat are mangroves around the coast, acacia trees, gingerbread palm and date trees further inland. The native grass in the area is Rhigozum somalense. The Somali wild ass shares this habitat with Archer′s lark, Arnold′s leaf-tailed gecko, Beira antelope, Dorcas and Sommerring′s gazelles, Salt′s dikdik, gerenuks and Beisa oryx.

Environmental Interactions
The Somali wild ass is an herbivorous primary consumer that eats grasses, leaves, thorny bushes and bark. The native grass Rhigozum somalense is being replaced with a non-native grass that has less nutrient value. The spotted hyena is the major predator of the Somali wild ass.

Status in the Wild
IUCN 2000: Endangered
Cites I
USFW: Endangered

Population Estimates
World Estimate In captivity, about 500. (Census in the wild has been impossible to conduct due to political unrest.)

Historical Range
(Maps are approximations)

The Somali wild ass has been found in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somolia.

Modern Range

They are now found in Djibouti, Northern Somalia and Ethiopia. Censusing has been difficult and exact ranges or numbers are unknown.

Conservation Information
Hunting by humans is a threat to the wild ass , but since eating this wild equid′s flesh is forbidden by Muslim religion, it is not the most serious threat. Somalis had been known to hunt the Somali wild ass for fat which was considered to be a medicine for Tuberculosis. In general these animals are very difficult to hunt in comparison to game species. Thier most serious threat stems from competition with man′s grazing, domestic livestock. With little rainfall in their habitat, grazing is very limited. Somali wild ass also breed with feral, non-threatened domestic donkeys. Through the 20th century, prolonged regional drought and civil unrest decreased the Wild Somali wild ass population.

Conservation efforts:
Long ago the Somali wild ass was protected by the Sultan of Aussa who would cut off the hand of any man who killed the animal (Aussa was one of King Menelik′s contemporaries; see History of Grevy′s Zebra). Today, the Somali wild ass is a protected species in Ethiopia and Eritrea, but has no legal protection in Somalia.

As of 1999 there were 94 Somali wild asses in captivity. These animals are very important and became part of an AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) . This plan makes sure that these 94 individuals are carefully bred. Zoos, researchers and scientists would like to reintroduce the Somali wild ass to its native habitat. Keeping the captive population healthy and thriving will help make that goal possible.