Somali Wild Ass

(Equus asinus somalicus)

Amharic: Meda Ahia

The wild ancestors of our domestic donkey now exist only in north west Indian deserts and in Africa, and the latter now appear to be restricted exclusively to Ethiopia. It is possible that a few remain in Somalia, but as the main herd is located on the Afar Plains, Ethiopia has become trustee for the world for the African Wild Ass.

There are three recognized species. The Algerian, which has been extinct for many years; the Nubian, formerly abundant on the plains of Nubia and the Sudan deserts, was last recorded in northern Eritrea. Total absence of sight records of the Nubian in recent years has led to the assumption that it too in all likelihood is also extinct. The Somali wild ass is therefore very probably the only extant representative of the African wild ass left on earth and its numbers are already as few as a few hundred. Because they are constantly on the move, an accurate ac- count of their numbers is impossible.

The Somali wild ass formerly occupied the coastal plain extending from Massawa in the north to Webi Shebeli in the south and inland across the plains of the Danakil region to the Awash Valley. Thesiger, in 1933, found it quite common.

Through the desert haze it is difficult to distinguish the true wild ass from the feral donkeys which have been living wild for generations in most of their range and in the Sahara, and are not of the true wild stock. There are thus many reports, mostly unfounded, of the existence of herds of wild ass in many areas. There is one from the Bale region on the upper reaches of the Juba. Another from the northern shore of Lake Rudolf. Both of these are more likely to be feral donkeys. The distinction between the latter and their wild counterparts is the plainer colouration of the asses' short sleek coats, which blends so effectively into the background, and their amazing ability to walk in the rocky mountains over exceedingly steep and rough ground.

Baker's description of the wild ass is quoted in the Red Book: "Those who have seen donkeys in their civilized state have no conception of the beauty of the wild and original animals... 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..."

The coat is red sandy to greyish fawn in colour, changing to light grey in the dry season, sleek and never shaggy like a domestic donkey. The mane is black, about five to eight inches long standing erect. They are a bit smaller than the Burchell's zebra, standing about 129 cms. (51 inches) at the shoulder. They have narrow black stripes on the legs, white markings around the eyes and muzzle and a white belly. The ears are very erect and have white inside and black tips. Contrary to some descriptions of it, it does not have a dark stripe across the withers, whereas the Nubian has a stripe across the shoulders and none on the legs.

Wild ass live entirely independent of water, in open desert country and in lava-strewn hills among the rocks and cliffs which they negotiate with ease. For hundreds of years they have been caught for interbreeding with domestic strains, from which they differ by their superior size and strength. More commonly the female donkey is tethered out at night to be served by a wild stallion to improve the stock.

Thc speed and extent of the destruction and decline of the wild ass can be judged from Swayne's 1905 estimate that about ten thousand were in the maritime hills south of Berbera in Somalia. Today it is unlikely that any remain in this area. Grimwood, who recently investigated the status of the wild ass in Ethiopia, considers the Sardo area crossed by the road to Asseb, to be the last remaining group of 200 to 300. 1t is unlikely that other herds total even this many. It is just possible that within its range other groups do exist. For example, rumour has it that a fairly large group survives at Buri, south of Massawa and other spots along the coast of Eritrea.

Although the Muslim religion forbids the eating of ass flesh, and thus the ass, living as it does mainly in Muslim territory, enjoys a degree of immunity to hunting, the Somalis were definitely known to hunt wild asses for the fat which is considered to be useful medicine against TB, and this reduced their numbers to a certain extent. Its most serious threat, however, is from competition with domestic stock in areas where the rainfall is 10 cms. (4 inches) a year and grazing very limited.

The wild ass is on the IUCN list as "depleted sub- species". Although it enjoys the "fully protected" status in Ethiopia, as yet no national park has been established to protect the last remaining survivors of this now rare species.