More Breeding success of the Somalian Wildass (Equus africanus somaliensis) at the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP)

After the birth of AWWP’s first Wildass offspring “Ahiya” in 2004, followed by the tragic loss of breeding stallion “Somalo” in the same year, AWWP proudly announces the birth of two Somali Wildass foals born in the summer of 2006, at the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation.

On the 09.07.2006, a young stallion was born to “Geralda”, a young mare born in 2002. The little stallion named “Arun” is “Geralda’s” first offspring. About 2 month later on the 05.09.2006 a female foal named “Asmara” was born to 16 year old “Astra”, AWWP’s oldest mare. “Asmara’s” birth took place in the early afternoon in the outside exhibit with the presence of the entire herd, including the stallion. Therefore it was decided not to separate the breeding stallion “Edmond” for the next days as is usually done after a birth to avoid disturbance and chasing. The birth of the two has increased AWWP’s total stock of Somali Wildasses to 8.

The Somali Wildass is nowadays the most endangered Equid worldwide. Due to over hunting, competition with livestock, interbreeding with feral donkeys and habitat destruction, the population numbers in their natural range, the Horn of Africa, have been dramatically reduced in recent decades. They are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN and face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.