Equine - Blog Posts
Onager is the ass of Asia. However, the biggest difference from the African Wild Ass is that the Asian Ass could never be tamed. They are considerable bigger that its African cousins at about 290 kilos in weight. They are also among the fastest mammals on planet, being able to reach up to 70 Km/h.
The two species, (African and Asian Ass) shared the same ancestor: The Kiang, which will be described later, and which was considered a subspecies of the Onager. Nonetheless, further studies acknowledge as a distinct species.
Five subspecies are recognized. Two of them are close to extinction, other two are threatened and one, unfortunately, is extinct. There is the possibility of another subspecies, The Gobi Khulan but there is still debate on it.
Mongolian Wild Ass: It is the most widespread from all subspecies but has lost about %50 of its former distribution range in just 70 years. It’s main threat is poaching and competition for grassland with livestock.
Turkmenian Kulan: Also called Transcaspian Wild Ass or simply Kulan, the animal has slowly decline in former distribution ranges but its population has increase where it’s been re-introduced such as in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine where they used to inhabit. Also in Israel where th subspecies is making hybrids with Persian wild Onagers.
Persian Onager: Also called the Persian Zebra or Gur, The Persian Onager has been close to extinction. It is highly protected and hunting it is strictly forbidden. Breeding programs in different zoos associations in Europe and North America are keeping hope on this animal. That various spring born in captivity has been returned to its natural environment. Some other new borns in Khar Turan National Park, in Iran (it’s native environment) has been reported.
Indian Wild Ass: Also called Ghudkhur, Khur or Indian Onager. Form barely 300 animals in 1960, strong seizures of protection and adding better resources to its environment such as water holes, by 2004 its population increased to almost 4000. The most recent census in 2015 stated that its population is close to 5000. When you want you can.
Syrian Wild Ass: Known also as Hemippe, Achdari or the Mesopotamian Onager, he couldn’t make it to today. Huge herds used to be seen in the 15th and 16th centuries but its number began to drop precipitously during the next centuries due to overhunting by Europeans. Its existence became uncertain during the World War I (Nothing god from wars) and its last specimen was fatally shot in 1927 near Azraq Oasis in Jordan. The last specimen died the same year, in Vienna.
I had a nice discussion a few day back about subspecies. My friend was arguing that subspecies is silly because some of the differences are just molecular, dental, and barely hard to see. Me, on the other hand, I think subspecies is the first step for a new species to come. The subspecies of one species are found in environments that usually has small variables in between but somehow force the animal to change in order to survive.
These adaptations are what make the animal a subspecies, small changes. However, we all know that the environment is not still and it will eventually change, probably a lot. And if the animal wants to survive that environment, it also has to change, a lot as well. To the point that it might become a new species. So I think subspecies is something very subtle but can be the beginning of a new animal. Interesting isn’t it? Anyway, is just my thoughts from the little I know about the subject. If someone have another approach I’d love to hear it.
PD. My next family will be the camelidae, so if you know about this family or have good pictures of them, you are very welcome to help me with this investigation.
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Now it’s the time for the less glamorous horse’s cousins, the Ass. An animal that shockingly is doing way worst than horses in terms of conservation and yet this really have had to do the dirty job. While the horse is exhibit proudly as a man companion and sometimes an extension of human’s soul, the Ass, on the other hand is like the one that is better not to be shown and the one in charge of the hardest and dirtiest jobs. Incredibly this obvious disparagement is reflected as well in its quantity due that from the four subspecies that exist, one is extinct and the other two are close to suffer the same fate.
Nonetheless, ass as regarded as stupid animals and are usually portrayed as such, nonetheless is an animal that is close in intelligence to the horse, if not the same. Besides, they are excellent mothers and can defend their offspring furiously. An animal to keep an eye on, to care and value as another really important animal that was crucial in the evolution of humanity. More love for this misunderstood animals, please.
Nubian Wild Ass: Believed extinct in the wild, some estudies of DNA were done to a feral population living in the Caribbean island of Bonaire (Keep in mind that this animal is from Africa) The DNA results were positive as a nearly pure DNA of the believed extinct Actual Nubian Wild Ass. Although further studies need to be done, give a little of hope to the survival of this animal. Somali Wild Ass: The fate of this animal was saved by a project in the Zoo of Basel in Switzerland, that has been able to keep the captive animals in a robust number.
Atlas Wild Ass: Extinct in 300 AD, this animal was used in the roman circus and hunting. It is estrange that many animals with the name “Atlas” on it, has been extinct as we will see further.
Donkey: A new friend to take care of and be grateful.
PD. My next family will be the camelidae, so if you know about this family or have good pictures of them, you are very welcome to help me with this investigation. Thanks! Also, happy new year, more posters in my store: Here Follow my Instagram: Species of the World
Przewalski's Horse:
The Przewalski Horse is the only truly wild horse that remains. Extinct at some point for more than 30 years, it was the zoos who actually brought them back. By 1940′s its number began to decline rapidly and by 1969 after a fruitless search, only one individual was spotted in the wild. Only a handful of this animals were surviving in some of the zoos of Europe.
A breeding program began in the Netherlands by 1977. By 1979 the program was able to maximize the genetic diversity from the almost 400 individuals spread in 16th different facilities. By early 1900s, the number of horses increased by over 1500. The horse is now reintroduced to its natural habitat and today it’s numbers remain stable.
Zoos are controversial but I personally think they are crucial at the conservation of the species (I’m talking about zoos that are actually working on precede the life of many species, not the ones that are created just for our own selfish enjoyment). There is of course room for improvement but a zoo is not what it used to be 40 years ago. There is a better understanding of the behavior of the animals today and this allow us to make better enclosures that are a more friendly space for the animals inside.
On the other hand, we are making the world an uncertain place. Many of the habitats are being vanished from earth and many species have seen their numbers drastically reduced because of this. Maybe the zoos are the new futuristic Noah’s Arc. A place for recovery, where endanger animals can survive in this uncertain times. Then, we can have more time to learn how to live on earth without destroying it and put them back where they belong once everything is safe again.
If is not for zoos, the Przewalski Horse would have vanished from earth many years ago.
PD. I change a little the layout. What do you think?
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Tarpan: Many reasons collided that resulted in the extinction of this wild horse. It was an important source of meat for many cultures and while humans were flourishing in the Eurasian continent, the Tarpan’s populations began to decrease. The Tarpan horses also were persecuted because of the damage they caused to hay storages. Breeding domestic horses with Tarpans also was a problem because the offspring were impossible to tame. Tarpans survived the longest in the southern parts of the Russian Steppe. By 1880 most Tarpans were hybrids, and pure breeds became extremely rare. In 1879 the last scientifically confirmed Tarpan in the wild was killed accidentally while being capture. The last captive Tarpan died in 1909 in a Russian zoo.