AFRICAN AND ASIATIC ASSES

AFRICAN WILD ASS

There are two species of ass. The African ass and Asiatic ass. The Nubian and Somali African Asses live in an area between Sudan and Somaliland.

INDIAN WILD ASS

The Asiatic asses are larger and more horse-like in appearances.

AFRICAN ASS ONAGER

They are subspecies like the Syrian wild ass. The Onager from Persia and India, the Kulan from Transcapia and Mongolia, and the Kiang from Tibet and Sikkim.

AFRICAN ASS KIANG

African wild asses live in sparsely covered rocky desert sf Northern Ethiopia and Sudan. They are the ancestor of the domestic donkey and the smallest form of equip with narrowest. hooves

They are all dun-coloured and have different heights between 120cm to 127cm

They have long ear, narrow hooves and short upright manes. The tails have a only a tuft of hairs at the end. On the inside of their front legs is a horny wart or chestnut. Horses have a similar chestnut on both of their front and back legs.

Asses are shorter and less graceful then horses and zebras. They bray instead of neighing and their social structure is different

Asses do not live in a permanent group. The most adult males live alone in large territories and mark it with their dung. They demand exclusive mating rights with any female which wanders into their territory. After mating the female may stay with its offspring for a few months but if the food is getting scarce the mare and its family will go somewhere else. Young stallion without a territory will form a bachelor group

Apart from the mating season asses live on their own or in temporary groups all depending on food supply. In dry areas with widely scattered vegetation and of low-quality, males forage in pairs or on their own while females live with their foals.

In wetter areas with plentiful of vegetation, asses live in larger groups. It also gives them more protection against predators. Some groups organise themselves by one or two keeping a watch, while the others feeding, roll on the ground, or sleep.