Mammals
African Wild Ass
Equus africanus · also called Somali wild ass, Nubian wild ass
In the heat of the Danakil lowlands, a slender African wild ass with zebra-striped legs scans the horizon for water, the wild ancestor of every donkey and now nearly gone.
Overview
The African wild ass, Equus africanus, is a Critically Endangered wild ass of the arid lands of Eritrea and Ethiopia. As the ancestor of the domestic donkey, with only a few hundred animals left, it is one of the rarest and most important wild equids.
The wild root of the donkey
Every domestic donkey descends from the African wild ass, which makes its decline an unusual case of an animal vanishing while its domestic descendants number in the tens of millions.
Status
Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population.
African Wild Ass: common questions
Is the African wild ass the ancestor of the donkey?
Yes, it is the wild ancestor of the domestic donkey.
Why is the African wild ass critically endangered?
It has been hunted, has competed with livestock for water and grazing, and interbreeds with domestic donkeys.
Does the African wild ass have stripes?
Yes, it has faint dark stripes on its legs, like a zebra.
Where is the African wild ass found?
It lives in the arid lands of Eritrea and Ethiopia, including the Danakil Desert region.