4 critically endangered Somali wild ass born in Qatar reserve

14/12/2009 11:32:10 Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation celebrates the birth of 4 Somali Wild Ass babies.
December 2009. Between the 15th and the 28th of October 2009, four critically endangered Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis) were born at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation centre. The three little stallions and one mare were all sired by "Hector", who arrived from Montpellier Zoo/France in April 2008, as part of an exchange within the European Endangered species breeding Program (EEP), that AWWP participates in. Funnily, "Hector" was never seen mating with the mares - but proof that he successfully did so is obvious.

World's most endangered Equid
The Somali Wild Ass, regarded now as the most endangered Equid worldwide, has seen a dramatic reduction of the wild population in their natural range - the Horn of Africa - over the last decade. This has been due to over-hunting, competition with livestock and habitat destruction. This last remaining ancestor of the modern donkey is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. The births of the four latest foals have raised the total number of wild asses in AWWP up to 18.